Linux OS Kernel, GNU Commands And Open Source Software - Linux Training

The Linux kernel and the GNU software components fall under the broader category of “open source software”. The word “source” in the term “open source software” represents the source code of the software.

Linux Commands Training Tips: "Source code" is the text (code) of a software program. It is the text of the programming logic of a software program, such as "if a = b then do step c".

This text is created in some kind of "text editor" program, which is basically a word processor that is used for editing the source code of program files. The source code of a program is "plain text" and

doesn't include any formatting.

The source code of a program is "compiled" to create a binary (executable program file) that can be run on a computer system.

Saying that the source code of a program is “open”, means that the programming instructions (the source "code" in the source code text file), is "open" and available for modification by anyone who wants to modify the program.

This in turn means that users can modify the software to better suit their purposes. As well, as anyone can obtain the code to generate the software (compile the source code with a compiler to create a binary), and no-one can make the binary program file proprietary and prevent others from using it.

The Open Source Initiative (OSI)

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is an organization that defines the license for open source software. This license is similar to the GPL license and can be used in other software products.

The creators of “closed source” software, such as Windows and most of the major application software programs that run on Windows, such as the Office Suite of programs, do not make the source code of their software available to the public.

The Open Source Software License and the GPL

The Open Source Software license is similar to the GPL, but it is not the same. You can find out more about Open Source Software and the Open Source Initiative at: http://www.opensource.org.

There are differences between the licenses of GPL software and Open Source Software. The Free Software Foundation does not consider that the two are the same. However, the two licenses are often referred to interchangeably by people in the Linux community.

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