Capterra Glossary
Open Source
Open source is the term used for any computer program that contains source code that is publicly accessible for developers to use how they see fit. Open source licenses are typically more affordable than proprietary licenses, considering most open source code is available to use free of charge. Open source code is typically developed in a decentralized and collaborative manner, relying on the contributions and reviews of a variety of different software developers. According to the U.S. federal appeals courts, all open source licenses must have legally binding requirements for any use of copyrighted material. Open source tools are often used by software developers to troubleshoot their software solutions during the earlier stages of the program development cycle.
What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know About Open Source
Many tech startups use open source software as a basis for the software programs they develop. Using open source code allows tech startups to get input from expert developers that they would otherwise not have access to. By predicating their business on an open source software project, small tech startups with limited budgets can save time and money on software development that can otherwise be spent on promoting their business.
Related Terms
- Synchronous
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Intranet
- Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Haptics
- WAN (Wide-Area Network)
- Service-oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
- Scalability
- Data Center
- Authorization
- Multitenancy