| Open Source Software and its Relation to | | | | well as share there ideas with others. Once |
| osCommerce E-commerce sites such as | | | | computer became more mainstream and people |
| osCommerce function through the use and | | | | other than programmers began using programs, |
| continued success of open source software - | | | | the need (and desire) for the source code |
| in fact, open source software is what makes | | | | declined. This is when software companies |
| these sites free. So what exactly is open | | | | began realizing the economical benefits of |
| source software? The purpose of article is to | | | | keeping their source code for software |
| help you better understand what open source | | | | private. This also began the influx of new |
| software is. Basically, open source is based | | | | and incompatible operating systems which |
| on the idea that when people have access to a | | | | further declined the ability for programmers |
| software's source code they can change, | | | | to share and collaborate with one another. |
| improve and evolve a piece of software at | | | | While there are benefits to creating and |
| astonishing speeds - a characteristic that | | | | selling software in this manner, some |
| ends up produces really great software that | | | | programmers realized the limits this posed on |
| meets the needs of its users. Open source | | | | the usability of the software. Without |
| software is not just free code for website | | | | keeping the source code open, the users were |
| and software. Open source software is | | | | bound to the limits of the software and were |
| "governed" by the Open Source Initiative. | | | | not able to alter it to fit their individual |
| According to the website for the Open Source | | | | needs. This is what began the development of |
| Initiative it must meet several criteria to | | | | the GNU Public License operating system for |
| actually qualify as open source: First of all | | | | open source software. The premise behind |
| open source software must not restrict anyone | | | | renewing the concept of open source software |
| from selling (or giving away) the software. | | | | is that software development would be faster |
| In other words, it cannot require a royalty | | | | and more efficient in giving people the |
| or fee. For a product to be open source, it | | | | programs they need and want to use. Today, |
| must also provide the source code so that the | | | | open source software is becoming more and |
| users can easily evolve the software to fit | | | | more mainstream and is used quite frequently |
| their needs and any software created with | | | | on the internet for websites and browsers. |
| free software must be free as well. | | | | How does it all relate to osCommerce? Obvious |
| Furthermore, open source software | | | | by its name, osCommerce is based on the |
| distribution cannot discriminate against | | | | concept of open source software. This means |
| people or fields. So, how did this concept | | | | that osCommerce is free to use and the |
| begin? Most experts on open source software | | | | community members can feed off of one another |
| will agree that the concept of open source | | | | to continually develop the code that they |
| software began with the creation of the | | | | use. The store owners don't simply purchase a |
| internet which was created and improved upon | | | | software program (such as a shopping cart |
| by it's users who continually changed the | | | | code) that they need to implement as is. They |
| code to make it work for them. Then, when | | | | can design, develop and evolve their store |
| computers were first used, programs were | | | | presence to meet their changing needs. The |
| often sent as a printed version that had to | | | | beauty of open source code in a situation |
| be entered into the computer line by line. | | | | such as this is that the members of the |
| Programmers not only entered the programs | | | | community can help one another develop new |
| onto the computers, they also were able to | | | | code on an ongoing basis. |
| "play" with the programs and make changes as | | | | |