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Open Source Definition

The Open Source Definition (OSD) is a critical document published by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) in 1998. It outlines the criteria for software to be considered open source, ensuring that such software can be freely used, modified, and shared. This definition is pivotal in the open-source software movement and has been recognized by several governments as the standard or de facto definition for open source software globally.

Origin and Background

The Open Source Definition was originally derived from the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG). The DFSG was created as part of the Debian Project to ensure that the software included in the project met certain ethical standards. Bruce Perens played a significant role in adapting the DFSG into the Open Source Definition by removing Debian-specific references to make it applicable to a wider range of software projects.

Key Criteria of the Open Source Definition

The Open Source Definition includes several critical criteria that a software license must meet to be considered open source:

  1. Free Redistribution: The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources.

  2. Source Code: The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. If the program is not distributed with source code, there should be a well-publicized means to obtain it.

  3. Derived Works: The license must allow for modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software.

  4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code: The license may restrict source code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time.

  5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups: The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.

  6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor: The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor.

  7. Distribution of License: The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties.

  8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product: The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program being part of a particular software distribution.

  9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software: The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software.

  10. License Must Be Technology-Neutral: No provision of the license may be predicated on any individual technology or style of interface.

Impact and Implementation

The Open Source Definition has had a profound impact on the development and distribution of free and open-source software. It serves as the foundation for many open-source licenses, such as the GNU General Public License, which is used by prominent software projects like the Linux Kernel and the GNU Project.

Organizations and developers who adopt the Open Source Definition ensure that their software remains accessible and modifiable by a wide audience, facilitating collaboration and innovation. The definition's emphasis on freedom and non-discrimination aligns closely with the values of the free software movement, although there are nuanced differences between free software and open source software.

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