| In the past, open source is often viewed as a free | | | | and start the GNU project and the free software |
| software. Well, that's in the past. The main difference | | | | foundation. Their goal was to create a free operating |
| between a free software and open source is the | | | | system. This then led them to designing the GNU |
| availability of the source code. Open Source software | | | | General Public License that was used as a legal |
| allows people to make changes to the software and | | | | implication so that it ensured that the software would |
| they are freely distributed. | | | | always remain free. This license was used to |
| When we ponder on the last sentence we can see | | | | promote the development of more software that |
| that these ideas creates some of the most | | | | are free. |
| spectacular projects that is available today. It is due | | | | Richard Stallman then went on to write the GNU |
| to all these reasons that we get to use fantastic | | | | manifesto that stated the availability of source code |
| software without cost. Some of the great software | | | | and the freedom to modify and re-distribute it are |
| include Mozilla Firefox and Linux Operating System. | | | | fundamental rights. Respectively on the west coast |
| Where as it is completely free to distribute there is | | | | the computer science research group were improving |
| an organization formed of volunteers to regulate | | | | the UNIX system which then went on to become |
| these creations. Whereas the source code is | | | | "BSD Unix". |
| regulated by some of the organization so as not to | | | | If we move on swiftly to the 1980's and 90's the |
| see it take steps backwards in development terms, it | | | | scene then started to change immensely as strong |
| leaves the door open to massive opportunity in | | | | user communities were built using USENET and the |
| terms of growth. | | | | Internet. Open source has continued in this |
| Many people may think that open source software is | | | | development in various groups. As a result of the |
| something that is relatively young but its history | | | | user communities it led to the software that had |
| stems back more that four decades and its journey | | | | been developed being merged and integrated which |
| is one of the longest in the history of software. From | | | | resulted in complete environments being able to be |
| some extensive research I discovered that it was in | | | | built on top of UNIX using open source software. As |
| the 1960's IBM and others were starting to sell large | | | | we move into the early 1990s a student from Finland |
| scale commercial computers that came with free | | | | was implementing the first prototype of the Linux |
| software where the source code could be modified | | | | system. This move caused many people to work |
| and improved. As proprietary firms then started to | | | | together and make the system more usable for the |
| stop free distribution of software and start charging | | | | mainstream. Soon, the GNU/Linux OS was made |
| users for it, it then led to the foundations of the | | | | available. |
| current open source movement that we know today | | | | These events would later change the open source |
| being formed by two groups in the late 70's and | | | | model so that we today can enjoy these software |
| early 80's. In the East Coast of America, one group | | | | for free. What an amazing journey open source is |
| was found. Soon another group was also founded in | | | | and even more fascinating is that fact that it has |
| the West Coast. | | | | enriched to world of information technology and our |
| A programmer named Richard Stallman worked for | | | | lives immensely. |
| MIT artificial intelligence decided to quit his position | | | | |