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What is open source?

Open source has many facets. From technical topics such as Open Code, Open Data, and OpenAPI (open interfaces) to thematic topics such as OpenGLAM (Galleries, Archives, Libraries, and Museums) or OpenGOV (Government Data), the spectrum is wide. What all "open" topics have in common is well summarised in the definition published by the Open Knowledge Foundation:

«Open means anyone can freely access, use, modify, and share for any purpose - without legal, technical or social restrictions.»

This principle sets open solutions apart from proprietary, “closed” solutions. By embracing this principle, companies can collaboratively address fundamental issues that are not directly linked to their core value creation. Open source solutions go beyond that. They establish a foundation for a technological level that individual companies with limited budgets would struggle to achieve on their own.

Why open source?

One compelling aspect of open source solutions is that they are developed bottom up by experts who work with these solutions on a daily basis. They do this because they are convinced that performance for their customers will be better if they co-develop fundamentals with the competition, rather than using their limited resources to develop less technically advanced solutions. In other words: They focus on differentiating themselves through their choice of trucks and logistics, providing the best service possible instead of building all streets themselves.

«Open source isn't about saving money, it's about accomplishing more and continuously innovating within the constraints of your budget.»

Jim Whitehurst,
former President of IBM and CEO of Red Hat

Open source software has propelled the technology industry forward, revolutionizing and enhancing various aspects of our lives. Even the largest and wealthiest technology companies in the world leverage open source software and freely accessible data sources.

Linux

Linux® is an open source operating system (OS) originally conceived and developed as a hobby by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Linus embarked on this project during his studies, aiming to create an alternative, free, and open-source version of the MINIX operating system, which itself was based on Unix principles and design. This hobby has since grown into the operating system with the largest user base, widely used on publicly accessible Internet servers, and the sole operating system used on the 500 fastest supercomputers.
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Signal

Signal is an encrypted messaging service for instant messages, voice calls, and video calls. Its instant messaging feature supports the exchange of text, voice notes, images, videos, and other files. Signal's encryption technology is considered top-notch. The application is developed by the non-profit Signal Foundation and its subsidiary, Signal Messenger LLC. Signal's software is free and open source. In fact, WhatsApp has adopted Signal's open code to implement full end-to-end encryption for all users by default. The differentiation among messaging apps lies in features such as usability, design, compatibility, and speed, which ultimately determine market position, rather than basic functions that could not have been developed in the same quality and timeframe through proprietary means.
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OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is an open geographic database continuously updated and maintained by a community of volunteers through open collaboration. Contributors gather data through surveys, aerial photographs, and the importation of freely licensed geodata from other sources. This freely available database is utilized by numerous companies, including Amazon, Apple, ESRI, Garmin, Mapbox, and SBB.
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Blender

Blender is a free, open-source software used for 3D modeling and more. It is supported by a dedicated community of developers worldwide and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. The software offers a wide range of extensions that add specific functionalities, such as the BlenderBIM add-on, which enables the creation of IFC data and the import, editing, and re-exporting of existing IFC models.
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Can open source tools be used free of charge?

Open source software does not necessarily imply that software is provided free of charge. However, it does mean that the source code, data structure, or database contents are freely accessible. Around this framework, which is available free of charge, companies can build services, user interfaces, interfaces, etc., which they can charge users for as they see fit. In this context, "free" refers to the rights of everyone to use the tools and not necessarily that a tool developed based on open source principles is available "free of charge" to end users.

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