'
Open Source Initiative' (OSI) as the name itself suggests is an
organization which works on a non profit basis to manage, arrange and
provide for 'open source code software.' Open source code
softwares are
those softwares that are in the
public domain i.e.
free for all. One of
the most successful examples of an open source code software is Linux
(an Operating System) which has probably become the second most used
operating system in the world after windows. This category of softwares
was the brainchild of those who advocated the
copyleft system rather
than the copyright one. These
people propogated the idea that instead
of providing copyright protection to the softwares and preventing them
from reaching people keep these softwares in the 'free for all' domain
and let everyone use them for their good. OSI is one such initiative or
a community of such people who strongly believe in the copyleft theory.
They have the objective of allowing the world at large to view the
source codes of the softwares that they create thereby calling them
'open source codes.' With this objective in mind they want all the
copylefts in the world to unite at this portal and contribute
their softwares for the greater good. General licenses governing a
variety of such softwares have been formulated, the most common ones
being GPL (General Public License) with other variants such as LGPL
(Lesser General Public License) wherein depending upon the kind of use
of these free softwares the other softwares that use these softwares
automatically fall in the public or the free domain. Specifically in
the case of GPL licenses any other software that uses a GPL governed
software becomes a free software itself. The aim behind such stringent
licensing conditions is that if others are providing their intellectual
input free for everyone to use then it would be unfair for any other
person to use them for his commercial benefit.
Therefore OSI is a platform where all the people who agree with this
theory of copyleft can come and meet and share their ideas and
softwares.
Published: October 19, 2005
More reviews about the open source initiative