Understanding OPEN-SOURCE
OPEN-SOURCE software refers to computer software with its source code made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. The OPEN-SOURCE-INITIATIVE (OSI) acts as a steward of the Open Source Definition, which sets the criteria for what constitutes open-source software. This movement was preceded and influenced by the FREE-SOFTWARE-MOVEMENT, founded by RICHARD-STALLMAN, although the two differ in their underlying philosophy.
One of the most significant achievements in the OPEN-SOURCE community is the LINUX-KERNEL, originally released by LINUS-TORVALDS in 1991. The success of the LINUX-KERNEL demonstrated the power of COLLABORATIVE-DEVELOPMENT. Today, millions of projects are hosted on platforms like GITHUB and GITLAB, utilizing VERSION-CONTROL systems such as GIT. Legal frameworks for these projects are provided by licenses like the GNU-GENERAL-PUBLIC-LICENSE, the MIT-LICENSE, and the APACHE-LICENSE. For more information on the history of this movement, refer to the Wikipedia entry on Open-source software.