Open Source Initiative
Open Source Initiative
The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Open-source software. The organization was founded in February 1998, by Bruce Perens and Eric S. Raymond, in response to Netscape Communications Corporation publishing the source code for its flagship Netscape Communicator product.
Pronunciation
Open Source Initiative: /ˈoʊpən ˈsɔːrs ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪv/
Etymology
The term "Open Source Initiative" is derived from the concept of "open source" software, which refers to software whose source code is freely available and modifiable by anyone. The "initiative" part of the name signifies the organization's mission to promote and advocate for the adoption of open source software.
Related Terms
- Open-source software: A type of software where the source code is released under a license that allows anyone to view, modify, and distribute the software for any purpose.
- Free software: Software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions only to ensure that further recipients can also do these things.
- Source code: The list of human-readable instructions that a programmer writes—often in a word processing program—when he is developing a program.
- Software license: A legal instrument governing the use or redistribution of software.
- Proprietary software: Software that is owned by an individual or a company (usually the one that developed it).
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