The question alone is right up there with “why is the sky blue’ I think. Perhaps, the following will help to clear the air a little bit.

Open source usually refers to software that is released with source code under a license that ensures that derivative works will also be available as source code, protects certain rights of the original authors, and prohibits restrictions on how the software can be used or who can use it.

In this article:

1. Open Source vs. Commercial Software
2. How Open Source Software Is Developed
3. Differing Definitions
4. Free Software and Open Source
5. Open Source Institutions

Answering the question What is open source? used to be a lot simpler than it is today.

Open source began as, and for the most part still is, software created by a community of people who are dedicated to working together in a highly collaborative and evolutionary way. [Read the rest]