Source code is what programmers edit to change the various aspects of a software application. When the source code is “open” to the public it means that anyone can look at it or even edit it. This is of course means its free for anyone to manipulate (positively) or use how they please. WordPress is a great example open source application software. Corporation owned software (proprietary software) is the exact opposite open source, it is often illegal to try to study, examine, or reverse-engineer the software licensed to the copyright holder.
Commonly encountered open and closed source software applications.
Why should we care about open source? Of course free software is great (with free legal software being even better) and many open source solutions have become extremely popular and profitable. A great deal of smartphone users having devices with android based operating systems, Cal Poly’s online learning software switching from blackboard to PolyLearn (moodle). Internet explorer has been widely criticized for its gaping security holes in comparison to Firefox and Chrome.
Professionals are finding out that open source is more and more reliable than software licensed by giant billion dollar corporations. The International Space Station just recently announced a change from Windows and Linux for their computers, citing increased reliability.
A big misconception about the idea of open source is that it is only for software. The concept can be applied to just about anything, certainly including computer applications and electronics, but also any product design. Open source medicine, the development of pharmaceuticals, opening up scientific journals to avoid high costs of publication, are all on the brink of development.
Open source could very well be the future for all fields of study. Let me know what you think!
Coding Languages for the Non-Programmer 