Imagine a huge toy box, the toys in there you not only can play , also can put into them see how they work, or add parts together into new toys. This ‘magic’ toy box is what is called ‘open-source’ in computers and technology. Open source means the instructions to build software are given away openly for anybody to use, change, and share. It’s like getting a LEGO set and an invitation to wreck it any way you want and then let everybody see your new creations!
A very famous example of open source is the Android operating system that runs many mobile phones and tablets. Unlike its main competitor, iOS from Apple is like the secret recipe which only Apple chefs know. Like cook books, Android is open for all to see and copy. This means phone companies like Samsung and LG can take Android, put on their favorite features, and stick the phone in their case. It’s like you could take your game disk out of the machine and put it in a game editor, adding new levels or roles and then letting your friends try your version.
Another cool example is the Mozilla Foundation’s web browser Firefox. Firefox competes with browsers like Google Chrome and Safari, but what makes it different is its open source nature. This lack of secrets allows anybody with programming ability to propose changes; and add additional functions to the product. It’s as if you could suggest new rules for a board game that everyone plays, making it more fun for everyone.
Then there is Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that can be edited by anyone. Although it is not an application like Android or Firefox, Wikipedia uses the same open-source concepts. Imagine if your school project were on the internet and anyone in the world could add more information or correct mistakes. That is Wikipedia – a large group project where everyone contributes their knowledge.
Open source projects may also spawn entirely new technologies. Take for example Python, a programming language that began life an open-source project but is now one of the world’s most popular languages. Python is used for web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence and just about anything you can think of. It’s like someone shared their secret recipe for cookies and it became everyone’s preferred cookie recipe, used as the base for all kinds of delicious ideas.
Above all, ‘open-source’ is a philosophy of collaboration, sharing, and learning from others. By allowing people to give, improve, and think of new possibilities open source makes technology better for everyone. Just as sharing and team work on group projects can produce a higher mark, open source helps make better technology which benefits all. So next time you fire up your cell, surf the net, or check something on Wikipedia, don’t forget the open-source community and the people who made it together.
