Open Source Software

Open Source is defined as:

“A method and philosophy for software licensing and distribution designed to encourage use and improvement of software written by volunteers by ensuring that anyone can copy the source code and modify it freely.”
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/open+source)

Basically this means anyone can view and modify the source code, the idea being that it will encourage improvement and innovation. You are also allowed to redistribute the software even as a component of another program. Any derived program created from open source software must also be liscensed under the same terms. The liscence also cannot discriminate against
certain groups, people, or fields of use. Open Source software provides the public with free, high quality, peer reviewed software alternatives to expensive commercial software. Some examples of popular open source software on the market today are: Open Office, Apache Web Server, and Red Hat Linux.