🆓 What is open-source software

Free software refers to computer software that can be used, studied, modified, and distributed for any purpose without restrictions, and can be copied and shared, whether modified or unmodified, without limitations. Or under conditions that ensure that recipients have the same rights. Generally, free software is free of charge, though some may have a cost. The usual way to distribute software as free software is to license it to the recipient under a free license or to place it in the public domain and publish its source code.

In English, where the term originated, "free" can mean both "libre" (freedom) and "gratis" (free of charge). Thus, advocates of free software emphasize that there is a fundamental difference between free software and free-of-charge software that publishers (holders of intellectual property rights) allow to be distributed without payment, but they retain copyright which does not necessarily allow others to freely use, copy, study, modify, and redistribute it, and of course, sell it. Typically, the source code of non-free free software is not published. There is no conflict between a software being free and being used commercially; indeed, the freedom to exploit software for commercial purposes is one of the freedoms.

Why Use Open Source Software?

One of the advantages of free software is the formation of communities around the software. This means that free software belongs to everyone, i.e., to everyone who has worked on its development and usage. Many developers worldwide share a common goal of creating software that is technically better than that provided by commercial companies. This feature aims to create projects that develop skills and competencies for students and general users. Among these projects is the “Egypt FOSS Platform” (egyptfoss).

How to Start Using Open Source Software?

Open source software can be obtained from many sources, with one of the most famous being GitHub, which hosts a lot of free open source software under the MIT license. This allows you to copy, modify, add to, or even contribute to the content.