Open Source Licence

Open source software is software released with its source code freely available, so anyone who wants to can read it, change it and pass it on. It is usually free of charge as well, though the price is not what makes it open source — publishing the code is.

Source code is the human-readable set of instructions a programmer writes. With open source, that code is published rather than hidden, which gives users three features:

• Access to the source code — you can open and view the code to see exactly how the software works, which is also a good way to learn to program.
• Modification — you can edit the source code itself, not just the settings, so the software does what you need. A small cinema could change an open source ticket-booking program so it also reserves wheelchair spaces, rather than only selling seats.
• Redistribution — you can hand on copies, including your changed version, so improvements spread instead of staying on one machine.

Who builds it

Open source projects are often made by a community: volunteer programmers and companies working together. Someone who finds an error can fix it and send the change back, so the software grows through many small contributions rather than the work of one company.

It is still licensed

Open source does not mean there are no rules. The software is still protected by copyright and released under a licence that sets out what you may do with it. The licence is what gives permission to view, change and share the code; without it, copyright would stop you copying the software at all.