Open source is code that anyone can read, use, change, and share.
Why do people share their code? To be kind and helpful, to build better things together, to learn and grow, and because sharing makes everyone stronger.
It helps everyone: you can read the code to see how it works, fix bugs and improve it, and many people can build together on the same project.
Lots of things you use every day are open source, like the Linux operating system, the Firefox web browser, the Python programming language, and the VS Code editor.
Here is open source in action: someone builds something and shares the code, others read and use it, someone fixes a bug and sends it back, and together everyone makes something better.
Remember: open source means open for everyone, we share to help and learn, you can read it and improve it, and we build a better world together.
What to remember
- Open source means code anyone can read, use, and change.
- People share it to help others and build together.
- Lots of everyday tools are open source.
- Sharing makes software better for everyone.
Words to know
- Open source
- Software whose code is free to read and share.
- License
- The rules for how shared code can be used.
- Contribute
- To help improve a shared project.
- Community
- The people who build a project together.
For grown-ups
Open-source software is released under licenses that let anyone use, study, modify, and redistribute the code. It powers much of the modern internet (Linux, Firefox, Python) and models collaborative, transparent development, which is also a security benefit: many eyes can review the code.
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