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Free and open-source software
Also known as: FLOSS, Free/Libre & Open Source Software, Free/Open Source Software, free/libre and open-source software, free/libre and open source software communities, free open-source software, Free/Libre/Open Source Software
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Free and open-source software - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 37 facts
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) is software available under a license that grants users the right to use, share, modify, and distribute the software, whether modified or not, to everyone, while providing the means to exercise those rights using the software's source code.
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) facilitates collaboration among various parties to develop efficient software, whereas proprietary software is typically developed with the primary goal of generating profit.
claimThe Indian government announced a national policy on the adoption of free and open-source software (FOSS) in March 2015.
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) is often provided free of charge, though donations are frequently encouraged, which allows users to test and compare software more easily.
claimA team of full-time professionals behind a commercial product can, in some cases, lead to more secure code than a volunteer-driven free and open-source software (FOSS) project, as FOSS does not guarantee a high level of participation.
claimManufacturers sometimes obstruct Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) by withholding interfaces or specifications required to write hardware drivers, often to force customers to use proprietary software or to benefit from exclusive partnerships.
claimThe term 'Free and Open Source Software' (FOSS) is used by the International Free and Open Source Software Law Review to cover both Free Software and Open Source Software without bias toward either political approach.
claimThe Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) movement may provide a plan for political resistance or a path toward transforming capitalism by realizing the potential of an 'economy of abundance' in the digital world.
perspectiveThe International Free and Open Source Software Law Review does not endorse any single licensing model, focus, or emphasis, but aims to increase understanding of the legal mechanisms used by all forms of Free and Open Source Software licenses.
claimUsers of Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) benefit from the Four Essential Freedoms, which allow them to make unrestricted use of, study, copy, modify, and redistribute software with or without modification.
referenceThe National Advisory Council on Innovation Open Software Working Group in South Africa published a report on Free/Libre & Open Source Software and Open Standards in South Africa.
claimIf a vendor of proprietary software ceases development, users have no alternatives, whereas with Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS), users retain the right and the source code to continue development themselves or pay a third party to do so.
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) is sometimes incompatible with proprietary hardware or specific software.
claimFree and Open-Source Software (FOSS) projects can have more unfixed bugs and missing features compared to commercial software, though this varies based on the level of interest in a specific project.
perspectiveThe free software movement prefers to use the term 'free/libre and open-source software' as an equivalent to Free and open-source software (FOSS).
perspectiveRichard Stallman argues that the term 'FOSS' fails to be neutral, preferring the term 'Free/Libre and Open Source Software' (FLOSS) instead.
claimUsers of free and open-source software (FOSS) can inspect and verify source code themselves, reducing the need to trust software vendors who may be pressured to include backdoors or covert features in proprietary software.
claimThe GNU General Public License (GPL) is one of the most widely used copyleft licenses in the free and open-source software (FOSS) community and was created by the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) is the opposite of proprietary software, which is characterized by restrictive licensing or undisclosed source code.
accountThe Vieira do Minho Municipality in Portugal began transitioning its computer systems to free and open-source software in 2000.
claimReasons for using Free and open-source software (FOSS) include decreased software costs, increased security against malware, stability, privacy, opportunities for educational usage, and giving users more control over their own hardware.
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) is supported by a loosely associated movement of multiple organizations, foundations, communities, and individuals who share basic philosophical perspectives and collaborate practically, though they may diverge on detailed questions.
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) development models involve as many people as possible to expose bugs quickly, whereas proprietary software hides code from public view, limiting vulnerability awareness to vendors and hackers.
claimThe Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) movement counters neoliberalism and privatization by defying ownership regulations in the construction and use of information.
claimUsers of free and open-source software (FOSS) can modify the software's code and distribute modified versions, or request that changes be integrated into the original software, depending on the project's governance model.
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) is an inclusive umbrella term that encompasses both free software and open-source software.
claimUnlike closed-source software, any individual with the motivation, time, and skill can improve Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) projects.
claimAll Free and open-source software (FOSS) has publicly available source code, but not all source-available software qualifies as FOSS.
claimThe term 'Free and Open Source Software' encompasses both Free Software as defined by the Free Software Foundation and Open Source Software as defined by the Open Source Initiative.
accountThe historical precursor to Free and open-source software (FOSS) was the hobbyist and academic public domain software ecosystem that existed from the 1960s to the 1980s.
claimThe rights guaranteed by Free and open-source software (FOSS) originate from the 'Four Essential Freedoms' of The Free Software Definition and the criteria of The Open Source Definition.
claimThe free software movement and the open-source software movement are online social movements responsible for the widespread production, adoption, and promotion of Free and open-source software (FOSS).
claimFOSS development is often hindered by a lack of access to official standards due to costly royalties or non-disclosure agreements, such as those required for the DVD-Video format.
claimCopyright is the primary legal mechanism that Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) authors use to ensure license compliance, though legislation, patents, and trademarks also have implications.
referenceFLOSS is an umbrella term covering a diversity of software types and development approaches, though the distinction between free software and open-source software remains sometimes controversial due to differences between the two development communities.
claimIn 2022, Germany launched Open CoDE, a repository and forum for free and open-source software (FOSS).
claimFree and Open-Source Software (FOSS) projects often face less certainty regarding the availability of resources and participation for continued development compared to commercial software backed by companies.
Open-source software - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 17 facts
claimDevelopers use the terms 'Free and Open Source Software' (FOSS) or 'Free/Libre and Open Source Software' (FLOSS) to describe open-source software that is also free software.
claimThe corporate philosophy regarding the development of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) has shifted significantly, moving from a role outside of mainstream private software development to active participation by large companies.
measurementThe French government policy incentivizing free open-source software led to an estimated 18% increase in tech startups and a 14% increase in IT sector employment.
claimBefore its commercialization in the mid-1980s, the Unix operating system embodied ideals later associated with the Free and Open Source software revolution, including decentralized global collaboration, rolling releases, and a community culture that disliked proprietary software.
referenceM. A. Rossi (2006) authored 'Decoding the free/open-source software puzzle: A survey of theoretical and empirical contributions', published in 'The Economics of Open Source Software Development', which surveys theoretical and empirical research on open source software.
referenceGregorio Robles conducted a systematic review of empirical software engineering research on Free/Libre/Open Source Software (FLOSS) in 2006, presented at the 22nd IEEE International Conference on Software Maintenance.
referenceThe chapter "The Political Logic of Free, Libre, Open Source Software" by Jacinto Davila, published in Societal Benefits of Freely Accessible Technologies and Knowledge Resources in 2015, discusses the political logic behind free, libre, and open source software.
measurementA French government policy incentivizing the use of free open-source software increased contributions to nearly 600,000 per year.
referenceJoseph Feller, Brian Fitzgerald, Scott Hissam, and Karim R. Lakhani edited 'Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software', published by The MIT Press in 2005, which provides an introduction to the field.
claimThe GNU operating system was released before the philosophical beliefs of the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) revolution were formally defined.
measurement78% of companies report that they run all or part of their operations on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
claimFree and open source software (FOSS) products are generally licensed under two categories: permissive licensing and copyleft licensing, both of which differ from proprietary licensing by allowing broader user access and the creation of derivative works.
referenceChristopher Tozzi authored the book 'For Fun and Profit: A History of the Free and Open Source Software Revolution', published by MIT Press in 2017.
claimThe Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) project publicly shared its innovations with the main Unix operating system, serving as an example of the free public code sharing that characterizes modern Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
claimAll Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is considered 'source available' because the Open Source Definition requires source code accessibility, but not all 'source available' software is FOSS.
referenceThe book "Incorporating the Digital Commons: Corporate Involvement in Free and Open Source Software" by Benjamin J. Birkinbine, published by University of Westminster Press in 2020, discusses corporate involvement in free and open source software.
claimSoftware is not classified as Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) if it fails to meet the Open Source Definition requirements, such as permitting modification or redistribution, even if the source code is available to users.
Exploring Open-Source Software Ecosystems for Hardware ... link.springer.com May 1, 2024 9 facts
claimThe Open Source Hardware (OSH) movement was inspired by the Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) movement, which is generally traced back to the Free Software Foundation (FSF), the GNU Operating System, MINIX, and the Linux kernel.
claimOpen Source Hardware (OSH) designers are encouraged to support Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) ecosystems by actively using the tools and providing feedback to developers to address current shortcomings in hardware-related FLOSS tools.
claimFree/Libre and Open-Source Software for hardware development offers tools that are compatible with the values of the Fab City manifesto.
claimCompetition-driven software relies on market forces and customers for survival, whereas Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) alternatives rely on collaboration and adoption for survival.
claimOpen-Source Hardware is inspired by Free/Libre and Open-Source Software and is gaining traction within the Maker movement.
claimFree/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) is typically financed through a combination of donations, grants, crowdfunding, dual licensing, commercial support, and voluntary contributions.
claimCommercial software companies could potentially benefit from Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) by adopting common standards, supporting universal CAD kernels, and improving file-format compatibility and interoperability.
perspectiveThe philosophy of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) tools prioritizes planned perpetuity over planned obsolescence, aiming to serve user needs rather than extract economic value.
claimFree/Libre and Open-Source Software (FLOSS) is widely used in the industry, specifically powering web servers, frameworks, and tools.
Open-source license - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 5 facts
referenceBruce Perens proposed the Debian Free Software Guidelines at Debian to establish a specific and objective standard for free and open-source software hosted in Debian repositories.
claimOpen-source licenses are software licenses that allow content to be used, modified, and shared, facilitating free and open-source software (FOSS) development.
claimThe Free Software Foundation, the Open Source Initiative, and the Debian project are historically recognized as the primary authorities for determining whether a license qualifies as free and open-source software.
claimTrademarks are the only form of intellectual property not shared by free and open-source software, and they function the same as any other trademark by identifying the distinct source of a product.
claimCloud computing relies on free and open-source software and avoids the distribution mechanisms that trigger most open-source license requirements.
Seven observations and research questions about Open Design ... cambridge.org Oct 19, 2021 4 facts
claimResearchers often hypothesize an 'isomorphism' between Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) and Open Source Hardware development practices because Open Source Hardware extends concepts originally developed for Open Source Software.
claimOpen Design and FLOSS (Free/Libre and Open Source Software) both contain a mix of ideologically driven and practical initiatives.
referenceThe Linux Foundation Core Infrastructure Initiative (2020) defines best-in-class Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects as those that establish the necessary infrastructure for external contributors to participate in functionality development and testing.
claimOpen Source Hardware has not adopted open source development practices to the same level of maturity as Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS), such as the Linux project.
What Is Open Governance? Drafting a charter for an Open Source ... opensource.org May 9, 2023 3 facts
claimThe ClearlyDefined project scope focuses on licensing data, including declared and observed licenses, copyright holders, and source location (including revision and commit information), to make Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) easier to consume.
procedureClearlyDefined undertakes four main operations: (1) harvesting data embedded in projects, (2) curating the data in an open and collaborative process, (3) contributing clearly defined project data back to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) projects, and (4) making the data freely and easily accessible.
procedureThe ClearlyDefined project methodology involves crowdsourcing the curation of licensing, security, and accessibility data by harvesting data embedded in projects, curating that data in an open and collaborative process, and contributing the clearly defined project data back to the original FOSS projects.
Open Source Software: What is OSS? - Sonatype sonatype.com 2 facts
What is open source software? oss-watch.ac.uk May 1, 2005 1 fact
claimOSS Watch uses the term "open source software" to encompass both Free and Open source software, which is commonly abbreviated as FOSS.
Brief History of Open Source Hardware Organizations and ... oshwa.org 1 fact
claimThe Linux Fund is an organization that has been raising funds and making donations to free and open source software projects since 1999.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_... scholar.google.com 1 fact
referenceThe book 'Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software', edited by Joseph Feller and published by MIT Press in 2005, examines the status and impact of the Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) revolution on industry and society.
Open-source hardware - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia smoothieware.github.io Apr 15, 2016 1 fact
claimOpen-source hardware is sometimes referred to as FOSH (free and open-source hardware) because it applies concepts from the free and open-source software (FOSS) movement to physical components.
Open Source Hardware - Devopedia devopedia.org Jun 3, 2019 1 fact
accountBefore specific Open Source Hardware (OSHW) licenses were defined, people used Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) licenses for CAD drawings or firmware.
Lesson 3: licenses and open science hardware ucla-imls-open-sci.info Jun 13, 2025 1 fact
claimOpen source licenses originate in the free and open-source software (FOSS) movement and have since been adapted for hardware contexts.
What is Open Source: Understanding Its Impact on Technology and ... algocademy.com 1 fact
claimThe history of free and open-source software began in the early 20th century.
(PDF) Open Source Licenses and the Creative Commons Framework researchgate.net 1 fact
referenceThe paper 'Open Source Licenses and the Creative Commons Framework' provides a general introduction to eleven commonly-used Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) licenses.
Archetypes of open-source business models | Electronic Markets link.springer.com Jun 14, 2022 1 fact
referenceOkoli and Nguyen (2015) conducted a Delphi study to gain insights into business models for free and open source software, presented at the 21st Americas Conference on Information Systems.
Governance of open source software: state of the art - Springer Nature link.springer.com Jun 9, 2007 1 fact
referenceThe article 'Governance of open source software: state of the art' cites the 2005 book 'Perspectives on free and open source software', edited by J. Feller, B. Fitzgerald, S. A. Hissam, and K. R. Lakhani, which provides perspectives on free and open source software.
Governance in Practice: How Open Source Projects Define ... - arXiv arxiv.org 5 days ago 1 fact
referenceThe paper 'Uncovering the periphery: a qualitative survey of episodic volunteering in free/libre and open source software communities' was published in IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 46 (9), pp. 962–980.
Open-source hardware - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 1 fact
claimFree and open-source software (FOSS) and open-source hardware are both created by the open-source culture movement and apply similar concepts to a variety of components.
Open Source Hardware - The Turing Way book.the-turing-way.org 1 fact
claimDesign files for Open Source Hardware projects should include parts metadata, such as the manufacturing process, materials, dimensions, mass, and units, and ideally be created using free and open source software applications.