Open Source Technology – Brief Notes
1. Definition
Open source technology refers to software whose source code is made freely available to the
public. Anyone can view, modify, distribute, and improve the code under its license terms.
2. Key Features
- Free access to source code - Community-driven development - Transparency in software design
and functioning - Flexibility to customize - Collaborative innovation
3. Examples
- Operating Systems: Linux, Ubuntu, Fedora - Web Servers: Apache, Nginx - Databases: MySQL,
PostgreSQL, MongoDB - Programming Languages & Tools: Python, PHP, Git, Eclipse
4. Advantages
- Cost-effective (usually free) - Secure (bugs can be quickly fixed by the community) - Flexible and
customizable - Encourages innovation - Large support community
5. Disadvantages
- May lack dedicated customer support - Requires technical expertise to customize - Compatibility
issues with some proprietary systems
6. Applications
- Web development - Cloud computing (e.g., OpenStack, Kubernetes) - Artificial Intelligence & Data
Science - Education and research - Enterprise software solutions
7. Licensing
Popular licenses include GPL (GNU General Public License), MIT License, and Apache License,
which define usage rights and restrictions.
In short: Open source technology is a cost-effective, transparent, and collaborative approach to
software development, widely used in IT, research, and businesses worldwide.
■ Notes on Open Source Technology
■ 1. Open Source Operating Systems
Operating systems are the backbone of computers; open-source ones are widely used for flexibility
and stability.
Linux - Most popular open-source OS. - Kernel developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. - Comes in
many distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Red Hat, etc.). - Used in servers, desktops, mobile
(Android), and supercomputers.
Ubuntu - User-friendly Linux distribution. - Great for beginners and desktop use. - Popular for cloud
computing and development.
Fedora - Community-driven Linux OS supported by Red Hat. - Known for innovation and security.
Debian - Very stable Linux distribution. - Base for many other OS like Ubuntu.
■ 2. Open Source Web Servers
Web servers are software that deliver web pages to users’ browsers.
Apache HTTP Server (Apache) - Oldest and most widely used open-source web server. - Highly
customizable with modules. - Cross-platform (Linux, Windows, etc.).
Nginx (Engine-X) - Lightweight and faster than Apache in handling concurrent users. - Used for
reverse proxy, load balancing, caching. - Powers many high-traffic websites.
LiteSpeed (OpenLiteSpeed) - Open-source edition of LiteSpeed server. - High performance and
security features. - Often used in WordPress hosting.
■ 3. Open Source Databases
Databases store and manage data efficiently.
MySQL - One of the most popular open-source relational databases. - Widely used in web
applications (e.g., WordPress, PHP apps). - Owned by Oracle, but still open-source versions exist.
PostgreSQL - Advanced, enterprise-class open-source database. - Known for stability,
performance, and SQL compliance. - Supports complex queries and large data workloads.
MariaDB - Community-driven fork of MySQL. - More open than MySQL (created after Oracle
takeover). - Drop-in replacement for MySQL.
MongoDB - Popular NoSQL open-source database. - Stores data in JSON-like documents. -
Excellent for big data and real-time applications.
■ 4. Open Source Tools
These tools help in software development, version control, and productivity.
Git - Distributed version control system created by Linus Torvalds. - Used for tracking code changes
and collaboration. - Backbone of GitHub and GitLab.
Eclipse - Open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE). - Mainly for Java, but supports
many languages via plugins.
NetBeans - IDE for Java, PHP, HTML, and C++. - Simple and good for beginners.
LibreOffice - Free office suite (alternative to Microsoft Office). - Includes Writer, Calc, Impress, etc.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) - Open-source photo editing tool (alternative to
Photoshop).
■ In Summary
- OS: Linux, Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian → power servers & desktops. - Web Servers: Apache & Nginx
→ serve websites efficiently. - Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MongoDB →
store/manage data. - Tools: Git, Eclipse, LibreOffice, GIMP → help in coding, collaboration, and
productivity.
