what is open source software? is it freely available or not?

[Babita]

can anybody tell me about open sorce software?

[Iqbal Ahmad Ansari]

¨The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials which is freely available throughout the web.

¨Open source software is software that users have the ability to run, distribute, study and modify for any purpose.

¨Open source refers to source code, the human-readable computer code which is the origin, or source, of the computer application.

¨Open source software is software for which the source code is freely available.

¨Open source is a collaborative software- development method that harnesses the power of peer review and transparency of process to develop code that is freely accessible.

¨A main principle and practice of open-source software development is peer production by bartering and collaboration, with the end-product, source-material, and documentation available at no cost to the public.

¨Open source is an expression where it simply means that a system is available to all who wish to work on it.

¨Many libraries, however, may not be able to afford commercial products. Furthermore, some libraries may have their own special requirements which may increase the cost.

¨As a result many institutes turn to open source library management system software packages as their alternatives

[Babita]

thank u sir..........