Open Source Software in Ministry
What is Open Source Software?
Open Source Software is both a movement and a development paradigm. The concept permits the collaboration of many different programmers in potentially many different geographic locations to contribute to a software package. The programming code (or source code) is made available to the general public or purchaser to allow them to make their own modifications as they see fit. This allows complete or nearly complete software to be customized for specific needs.
This contrasts the Closed Source model where a single company hires programmers, generally in a centralized location, to develop proprietary code that is never released to the public and therefore cannot be modified or customized.
Examples of Open Sources Software versus Closed Source or Proprietary Software are;
| Open Source | Proprietary |
|---|---|
| Linux Operating System | Microsoft Windows Operating System |
| Open Office | Corel WordPerfect Suite |
| Firefox Browser | Internet Explorer |
