Open source software is a type of software that meets the requirements of the OSI (Open Source Initiative), a globally recognized initiative by users, companies, institutions, and public organizations. It should not be confused with free software, with which it shares some characteristics but differs in philosophy. Nor should it be confused with free software… although most open source programs are free! Essentially, it’s not just another type of software but a way of viewing the Internet, resources, their distribution and access, and the integrity of the author’s code. Discover more!
What Is Open Source Software?
To begin, let’s say that software is composed of several elements. One of these is the source code, i.e., the set of instructions the computer must follow. The source code is written in a programming language. Another is the object code, a set of instructions that can be directly executed by the computer and is not understandable to humans.
Furthermore, software, like any creation of the human mind, is protected by copyright. To be applied by users, creators authorize its commercialization or distribution to third parties, who do so under so-called “software licenses.” Thus, we find different classes of software.
Types of Software
Proprietary Software
In proprietary software, the source code is only available to the developer. The author retains intellectual property and authorizes use through licenses. Its conditions are:
- Modification or adaptation is not allowed.
- Obviously, copying (piracy) is prohibited.
- It can be installed on a limited number of computers.
- The license establishes the purposes for which it can be used.
Failure to comply with these conditions implies a violation of copyright.
Free Software
The most well-known example is Linux. Authors of free software, like those of open source software, are grouped under the Free Software Foundation and the GNU project. Their basis is the freedom of the computer user. Their goal is to grant greater freedoms to users than in the case of proprietary software. Essentially, there are four freedoms:
0: Freedom to use.
1: Freedom to study, to understand how it works and modify it, adapting it to one’s own needs.
2: Freedom to distribute, sending copies to other users who need it.
3: Freedom to improve, modifying the program to enhance it and making the improvements public to benefit the entire community.
It should be clear that authors of free software retain copyright but make the programs available to the community to exercise the aforementioned freedoms. This may or may not be done for free.
Open Source Software
This brings us to our main topic: open source software. It has a development model similar to free software but focuses on the release of the source code. Thus, more software can be developed in less time and at a lower cost than proprietary software.
Followers of open source software are grouped in the OSI (Open Source Initiative). In reality, it doesn’t just mean access to the source code. It must also meet other requirements, for example:
- Free distribution: The license does not prevent global distribution free of charge, i.e., it cannot require the payment of royalties or any other type for distribution.
- Source code: The new software must include the source code and allow its distribution. Through access to the source code, programmers can modify the program. However, intermediate forms or malicious modifications are not allowed.
- Derived works: The license must allow modifications and derived works and their distribution under the same terms as the original license.
- No discrimination: When distributing the license, it must not discriminate against any person, group of people, or fields of activity.
Free Software
Finally, we need to analyze free software. Although many times open source software and free software are free, this is not always the case. Simply put, it’s a computer program that does not require a license fee for its use.
There are many programs that can be downloaded for free from the Internet. However, it’s important to ensure they are of quality and do not contain viruses or malicious code.
Why Use Open Source Software in the Classroom?
In the classroom… or in any other field. Why use open source software? As we saw earlier, more than a matter of costs or technologies, open source software is a philosophical stance against proprietary software and license payments.
For this reason, in addition to its practical advantages, it’s interesting to use it in the classroom to promote a better understanding of the software market and that there isn’t a single profit-based vision. In reality, this idea is shared by many communities. For example, the cooperative movement is made up of companies based on principles and non-profit.
Continuing with the comparison, the cooperative movement consists of nearly three million cooperatives that group more than 1.2 billion members and generate trillions of dollars in business. The same happens with open source software. Projects involve thousands of developers who produce less expensive and more flexible software than proprietary software, based on values and principles, where the community itself makes decisions.
What Open Source Software to Use in the Classroom?
Open source software is very popular — and you’re probably already using it without even realizing it. These types of programs are generally referred to as OER (Open Educational Resources). In most cases, they are distributed under a Creative Commons license, which grants users certain rights and permissions, like the ones we mentioned earlier.
Also read: Hardware vs. Software — What’s the Difference?
Within OER, you’ll find teaching materials, courses, exams, texts, photographs, and videos. For example, the popular MOOCs, which include complete online courses. And of course, there is open source software specifically designed for creating open learning content and managing learning platforms or virtual classrooms. Here are some examples of open source software:
- Moodle – A well-known learning management system (LMS).
- Chamilo – Similar to Moodle, used for managing both in-person and virtual learning environments.
- LibreOffice – A popular open source office software suite. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet editor, presentation creator, vector graphics editor, and much more.
- Calibre – An eBook manager and organizer.
- Mozilla Firefox – A web browser developed for multiple operating systems like Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Scratch – A visual programming language widely used in classrooms to develop computational thinking.
- PDF Creator – An application that allows you to convert documents to PDF format.
Did you know that? Now you’ll probably use them with even more enthusiasm. When you do, be sure to highlight in class that you’re using open source software. That way, you’ll inspire your students to develop a different perspective on the software world, licensing models, and the idea of purchasing proprietary programs.
That’s all for now on “What Is Open Source Software and Why Implement It in the Classroom?” We hope you found it useful. Remember, at Recursos TICs you’ll find tools and resources for your computer science classes. Feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with our latest news.
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