What is Open Source and How do I get FREE software?

Okay, here is my stab at open source and what it is. When a application is created it is done in by creating a program code that makes it work. This is almost like foundation of a car and the motor and parts. You have to have the programming code in order for it to work. With closed source applications the code is not included with the program but, with open source the code is included. So, it is open for anyone to look at or learn from.

With open source software programmers are encouraged to make the software their own. This is one of the reasons why the code is included because it is believed that the code can and will be modified according to the users’ liking. All open source software has to be free to obtain but, one way some of the manufactures are getting around it being totally free is to include in a package. So, you technically purchase one of the software applications and get the open sources application for free. The great thing about open source is that it can be redistributed with the updated code that the “user” has customized.

Personally, I have been using Open Office for some time and really enjoy it over MS Office. I find it easier to teach my family members how to do something in Open Office verses MS Office. My summer semester at UCM I used Open office for the entire semester and was extremely pleased at it’s functionality. I had an “upgraded” version sent to me by one of my friends that is a programmer. In his version you could do more animations in “PowerPoint” and also instant message users on Yahoo. Creative!!

I did use Netscape when I was doing my undergraduate degree but, I really did not like it as it would freeze periodically. This was cumbersome as I had two online classes and “myportal” would not post my work because of the freezing. So, in short I elected to go back to Explorer.(Side note *I went to link this and found Firefox on the site as well. I currently use Firefox!)

In order to complete my undergraduate degree I had to finish a group project which consisted of a website devoted to artwork. I am for from a programmer but, I do believe the programmers used some perl to complete some of the functionality of the back house of the site. (My job was the front.)

I did find a few different operating systems that are Open they are; Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and GNU.

Honestly, I am only familiar with Linux as we used it at a couple of places I worked. These other operating systems I have no clue about but, if you do not know what an operating system is it is the major foundation that runs the computer or server. A few widely known operating systems are; Windows XP, Windows 2005, and Vista.