"Open Source" is a classification of software wherein the source code (it's "blue prints") are available to end users.

Prior to the 21st centure, the source code for software applications was not made available because it was often regarded very much as a trade secret, particularly to commercial software developers who also regarded their hard work as a competitive advantage.

Although many companies continue the practice of keeping source code for their products to themselves, the open source software movement has flourished and sharing source code has become a fairly common global practice.

See also

• Software

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