Open source vs proprietary software

Proprietary computer software program in which a manufacturer has established restrictions on the use of private modification, copying, or publication. Similar terms include "closed-source software" and "non-free software." The owners can impose restrictions on the hardware, such as restricting access source code, or by lawful means, for example, through copyright and patents.

Software and open source software has begun a marketing campaign for free software. OSS can be defined as computer software for which the human-readable source code is available under the copyright license (or arrangement such as the public domain), which corresponds to the Open Source Definition. This allows users to use, modify and improve the software and redistribute it in modified or unmodified form. It is very often developed in the public, in a spirit of cooperation. Open source software is the most striking example of open source development and often compared to user generated content. The report of the Standish Group says that adoption of open source, caused the drop in income of their own software companies about $60 billion per year.

One could argue that open source has, in recent years has begun to move into the mainstream market before the authorities, "shrink-wrapped" products such as Windows, Microsoft, operating system and office suite. Most frequently cited examples of alternative applications open code includes the operating system Linux, OpenOffice package and Mozilla's Firefox web browser.

The market of web browsers is completely dominated by Microsoft, with its Internet Explorer is between 90-95% of the most popular browsers in the past few years, it is difficult to say that the future of open source. On the one hand, financial strength and marketing its own doubts about the giant software such as Microsoft, would seem to suggest that the open source alternatives, and will remain that the alternative to the dominant self sacrifice. On the other hand, the increased interest and awareness, open source may bode well for future distribution.