Friday, November 27, 2009

Content Blog 8: Open Source Software

Open source software is a popular idea on the rise.  Open source software is software who's code is public domain, and can be edited in any way by anyone [that knows how!].  Almost everyone has heard of open source software, but may not recognize that it's 'open source.'  The browser Mozilla Firefox is one of the most well-known examples of open source software.  Another big example is the operating system Linux.  Open source software provides great, free alternatives to software that you otherwise would have to pay for.  For instance, instead of buying Microsoft Office, or Adobe Photoshop, you could download Open Office or Glimp as free alternatives.  Although they may not be as good as their licensed opposites, they're a nice alternative.  Another down side to open source software is that there's no company to go to if you have questions, or if your software isn't functioning correctly.  But, there are plenty of forums where people and program writers can help each other out, and try to solve issues.

Open source software is another one of those things that it's good to be aware of.  From a business prospective from any major, if you're on a tight budget, but need certain kinds of software, open source software may be the perfect option [because nothing is better than free].  Especially when open source software is comparable to it's counterpart, more and more people are turning to use and take advantage of it, even in every day use.

Here's a link to SourceForge, a website dedicated to the downloading of free, open source software.  The next time you see a program you like, try looking for a free alternative on this website - you may be surprised what you find!

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