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Open Source |
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Open SourceOpen Source is a term, developed in 1997, to represent free software. The term was designed to emphasize the freedom of use aspect of the software (source code is open), and not allow people to assume free meant no cost (which it did not). Aside from the marketing aspect of the new term, there are also differences in the ideologies of the proponents of the open source movement as a "branch" of the free software movement. The open source movement (Eric Raymond et al.) believes that open source should be a business choice, and only appropriate when it makes business sense (Magic Cauldron paper discusses this). The free software movement (evangelized by Richard Stallman) believes that all software should be free, and only if all software is free will free software be truly effective. Since all software development relies on previous "knowledge", and that previous knowledge is public domain, then new knowledge, as a derivitive, should also be free. While Open Source software must have a no-cost alternative (for it to comply with the open source definition) a marketer can sell a version at a price. (Red Hat's version of the Linux operating System is a great example.) The software releases are done so with the source code, which allows the consumer/user to modify the code for its specific purpose. Users that do modify the code are asked (via the license) to submit any modifications back to the initiators of the project (submitting a patch). This allows any improvements, or resolved bugs, to be included in new releases of the product. The most important developments thus far in the open source and free software movement has been the evolution of the Linux operating system, began in 1991, and the announcement of Netscape's Mozilla project, in 1997.Similar MatchesNatural resourceNatural resourceAnything that is provided by nature, such as deposits of minerals, quality of land, old-growth forests, fish populations, etc. The availability of particular natural resources is an important determinant of comparative advantage and trade in products that depend on them. Natural resources constitute one of the primary factors of production. Domestic resource costDomestic resource costA measure, in terms of real resources, of the opportunity cost of producing or saving foreign exchange. It is an ex ante measure of comparative advantage, used to evaluate projects and policies. The term was introduced to the economics literature by Bruno (1963, 1972). Source countrySource countrySee FDI. Mortgage interest relief at sourceMortgage interest relief at sourceThe mechanism by which income tax relief was extended to a borrower on the interest paid on the first £30,000 of a mortgage on their main home.The system was known as MIRAS, and was operated by most building societies, banks and insurance companies, who would reduce the amount of interest eligible borrowers had to pay every month, and then claim the tax relief back from the Inland Revenue.The amount of relief available on MIRAS was gradually scaled down to 10% and ended altogether from 6th April 2000. Other sourcesOther sourcesAmount of funds generated during the period from operations by sources other than depreciation or deferred taxes. Part of free cash flow calculation. Further SuggestionsResource boxResource Sources and applications of funds statement Source of funds seller Outsource Source code Foreign source income |
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