How does open source software development work?
Sir Isaac Newton is famously quoted as saying: If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants. Open source software development embraces this principle. Open source is a community-centric development model, which encourages the free flow of knowledge and insight between all members. The open source model does away with organizations and central control, replacing them with open networks of individuals. Every individual can build on the work that has been done by others in the network; no time is spent reinventing the wheel. Figure 1: The Open Source Model: Source code is available to public. The public is free to make improvements. Figure 2: The Closed Model: The Microsoft source code is closely guarded. The User only receives a compiled version of the software. Modification is impossible. In recent years, the linking of individuals has been enhanced by the Internet’s high-speed data capacity and omnipresence. With efficient networking infrastructure in place,
