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History of Free and Open-Source Software

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24 views3 pages

History of Free and Open-Source Software

Uploaded by

pelumgift
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ORIGIN OF FREE SOFTWARE AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

Before open source and free software came up as a standard definition, it was made
use of in the late 1960s, where it was accessed and shared majorly between people who
took care of computers.. Only a few companies manufactured computers with IBM being
one of such. For all of them software was just a companion to hardware: as long as you paid
maintenance, you had access to the software catalog of the manufacturer (Jesus Gonzalez-
Barahona).
In 1973, SPICE and its source code were placed in the public domain so the source
code could be assessed. It was the first example of how a FOSS strategy could lead to
market dominance.
Richard Stallman came up with the idea of free software in 1983 when he sent an email
stating his intent to write a complete Unix-compatible software system called GNU (for
Gnu’s Not Unix) and give it away free to everyone who can use it (Richard Stallman 1983),
The history of free software came from the idea of what he initially wanted Gnu to do. Gnu
will be a kernel plus all the utilities needed to write and run C programs: editor, shell, C
compiler, Linker, and a few other things,After which we will add a text formatter, a YACC, an
empire game, a spreadsheet etc (Richard Stallman 1983).“So that I can continue to use
computers without violating my principles, I have decided to put together a sufficient body
of free software so that I will be able to get along without any software that is not free”
(Richard Stallman 1983).
IN 1997, Eric S Raymond published an influential essay called The Cathedral and the Bazaar.
His paper contrasted the proprietary software development which he dubbed “the
cathedral”, against the wide-open and freely shared public development approach known
as the “the Bazaar”. Netscape corporation took notice of this and published Mozilla Firefox
as open-source code. (IEEE,2019)

GROWTH OF FREE SOFTWARE AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE


In the 1950s Open-source software was initially produced by academics and corporate
researchers who often shared source code as public domain software. It was originally
distributed under the principles of openness and cooperation and was not seen as a
commodity in itself. The first example of free and open-source software is believed to be
the A-2 system, which was released to customers with its source code.(IEEE,2019)
In 1969 the Advanced Research Projects agency created a high-speed computer network to
simplify the exchange of software code.
In 1983, Richard Stallman came up with the GNU project so that people could use
computers using only free software. He established a nonprofit organization, the Free
Software Foundation to formally organize the project. He invented the copyleft, a legal
mechanism to preserve the “free” status of a work subject to copyright. According to
Richman, a software is free if users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change
and improve the software. He believed in the four-essential freedom:
 Freedom to run the program as you wish for any purpose
 Freedom to study how the program works and change it so it does your computing
as you wish
 Freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others
 Freedom to distribute the modified copies of your work to others
Stallman’s phrase “free software” was replaced with open source in 1999, as the former
term focused too much on cost. Open source is called free because everyone can edit and
redistribute it, not because it doesn’t cost money.

IMPACT OF FREE SOFTWARE AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE


Open-Source software has made a big impact in the world today. According to Linux
Foundation OSS has helped organization in saving cost, flexibility in software development ,
security, innovation, uniqueness, and ability to leverage community expertise.
Open source on software development has encouraged the ability to drive innovation.
Open-source projects are accessible everyone, allowing them to contribute their ideas,
skills, knowledge and expertise to the public
Open source improves software quality and security since open-source software
undergoes rigorous scrutiny from a diverse group of developers. It also helps reduce cost
and dependency on proprietary software The open source has given rise to a vibrant
community of developers, contributors and users who collaborate to create and maintain
software. Free software increase both efficiency and accuracy(Shazad shaheed ).Free
software cost less than a proprietary software. Free software doesn’t impose upgrades
unlike the proprietary software

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Eric S. Raymond's essay 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar' highlighted the differences between proprietary software ('cathedral') and open public software development ('bazaar'), influencing the software industry by showcasing the benefits of collaborative open-source development. This concept led companies like Netscape to release Mozilla Firefox as open-source, reflecting a significant industry shift towards embracing open-source practices .

The network created by the Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1969 aimed to simplify the exchange of software code, paralleling today’s open-source ecosystem where code is collaboratively developed and shared globally. Both facilitate sharing and innovation, though modern open-source extends beyond academic settings to broader contributions and community-driven projects .

The A-2 system, released to customers with its source code, is significant as one of the earliest examples of free and open-source software, demonstrating early principles of openness and collaboration in software distribution despite being produced without the later formalities of FOSS .

Richard Stallman's key motivation for starting the GNU project was to ensure that he could use computers without violating his principles of freedom and to produce a comprehensive body of free software to allow users to run, modify, and redistribute software freely .

In the 1960s, software was typically distributed by computer manufacturers like IBM as a companion to hardware, accessible mainly to those who maintained computers and paid for maintenance. This contrasts with the late 1990s when open-source software was popularized, characterized by widespread public development and accessibility, exemplified by the release of Mozilla Firefox as open-source .

Open-source software offers economic advantages by reducing costs as there are no licensing fees, and it allows customization without vendor lock-in. Collaboratively, it fosters innovation and quality through community contributions, as large groups of developers review and improve the code, enhancing security and functionality compared to proprietary software .

The four essential freedoms highlighted by Richard Stallman are: (1) the freedom to run the program for any purpose, (2) the freedom to study and change the program, (3) the freedom to redistribute copies, and (4) the freedom to distribute modified versions. These freedoms ensure that software remains free for use, modification, and sharing, preserving the user's autonomy and the software's accessibility .

Copyleft, invented by Richard Stallman, contributed to the open-source movement by legally ensuring that free software and its modified versions remain free to distribute. This mechanism prevents the privatization of software that was originally open, thereby ensuring continued adherence to the principles of freedom and openness .

In the 1960s, software was typically bundled with hardware and mostly restricted to specific users who purchased maintenance services. In contrast, the modern era of open-source software decouples software from hardware, enabling widespread use, modification, and distribution without hardware dependency, thus democratizing software access and fostering innovation .

The shift from 'free software' to 'open-source' occurred in 1999 due to confusion over the term 'free', which was often interpreted as free of cost. 'Open-source' was adopted to emphasize the freedoms to edit, use, and redistribute, rather than the price, altering the perception of software costs by highlighting freedom over price .

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