- Published in Tech Talk
Open Source Software
Open Source Software
By the I.T Guy
Click aqui para español- > Programas de código abierto
As many people struggle financially due to economic strain from the pandemic and loss of work, access to technology to perform various tasks is still essential. Even when money is scarce, you can continue to use and enjoy tech tools and programs thanks to Open-Source software.
Open-source software is an alternative to paid software. These programs are created and developed by individuals who are coding enthusiasts. Open-source software is free to download and to use with no limitations. When programmers work on open-source software, they are giving their ownership rights up, so that everyone can use their code at no cost. Programming enthusiasts get a chance to work on projects that are “live” and that real people get to try, test, and use while the programmers’ skills get tested.
The open-source software idea started in the early ‘70s, but it wasn’t until the ‘80s that users got interested and began using these kinds of powerful software. Open-source software requires a license that protects the developer and its users. The GNU, General Public License, guarantees the users have the freedom to access the software without having to pay for it. Many developers include a donate button on their websites because some users who appreciate the programs and benefit from using them, feel compelled to pitch in to recognize the efforts of the developers but donating is not required.
Below you can see a chart that lists popular programs and their open-source alternatives. You will be surprised how well they work and how many free alternatives are available for expensive popular programs.