Fijatevos.com - Look Deeper

Here at Fijatevos.com we use open source software to produce and deliver all content on the site, at the bottom of each page you will see links to the software we are currently using to create what you are viewing in your browser.  If you are wondering what open source software is, then here is some basic information and some helpful links.

The Open Source Philosophy - FOSS

FOSS - means Free and Open Source Software.  Traditionally, software was developed by programmers or companies and then licensed for use by particular users under conditions dictated by the developer(s). For example, when you "purchase" a copy of Windows 7 for your PC, you are only getting permission from Microsoft (read the full Windows 7 EULA here) Section 8 of the license states:

"8. SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the features included in the software edition you licensed. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways. You may not

• work around any technical limitations in the software;
• reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, except and only to the extent that applicable law expressly permits, despite this limitation;
• use components of the software to run applications not running on the software;
• make more copies of the software than specified in this agreement or allowed by applicable law, despite this limitation;
• publish the software for others to copy;
• rent, lease or lend the software;
• use the software for commercial software hosting services."

Whereas with Open Source Software you may pretty much do all of that.

What's the catch?

There is no free lunch, right?  Why would people develop a script or software and then just give it away?  The answer is that in some cases it is just a charitable desire.  A person develops a software for their own use and would like to help other people that might find the software useful.  In other cases it is more complex, like with an open source  business model.  The developers in this case believe that the software will sell itself with use, and they are more interested in developing the software and providing services to the community of users, which will grow much faster if the software is free to use.  Here are some interesting articles:

The History of Linux ( a free, open source operating system that competes with Windows ) This project is backed  by companies like Novell and IBM.

History of free and open source software traces the origins of all software, and points out that most software was shared freely among users and companies until in the 1970s some developers began charging for software and marketing it using trademarks and patents.

Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers! by David A. Wheeler, is a paper that shows that open source software has competitive advantages over proprietary software using quantative data from specific projects and cases.  Its goal is to show that company or person interested  in obtaining software for a specific purpose has compelling reasons to use an open source or free software.

Ubuntu Philosophy - Explains the philosophy behind this free operating system and the rights and obligations of community members

Open Source Initiative - Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.

Commons-based Peer Production - Explains how open source development communities work.