Open source

            Open source allows anybody who can change the software change it.  People change open source software to improve it.  It can be made faster, adjust it in different ways and fix bugs in it.  Some web sites offer services to developers involved with open source developing.  Some sites offer their services for free and some do not.  All software has source code.  When a person wants to change open source software they manipulate the source code.  Most of the time this code is hidden.  This type of software is closed meaning the company does not wish for that software to be changed. 

            On software that is open source anybody is allowed to see the code and make changes to it where it is possible.  The whole Idea behind this is to get software to evolve faster.  Also this is to develop the elite of all software.  A user may add or delete code in order to adjust the software to their liking simply by manipulating the source code on open source software. 

            Closed source software does not allow anyone to manipulate or change code on their software.  One of the most widely used and famous closed source software is of course windows.  Almost every body uses windows.  We use it in our own computer lab.  Windows is software owned by Microsoft.  Microsoft owns Internet explorer as well.  If a user of Microsoft windows wishes to change their software for some reason they cant.  It is closed.  That person would just have to deal with it or wait for a better edition of windows.

            Macintosh uses Mac os software.  This software is open source.  Macintosh is partners with the apache program which we will get into later in this paper.  >Macintosh has partnered up with other free and open source networks such as BSD.

            Apache is used by IBM.  Apache is used with IBMS web sphere.  The latest in IBM technology can be accessed through their alpha works site. 

            When many people have accessed open source software it helps the software evolve a lot faster.  Many people can find flaws in the software.  When closed software companies create their software their is a limited amount of people to develop the software.  A Limited amount of people can only do a limited amount of things.  With open source software there is no limit to the amount of people who can work on the software and better it for a cheaper cost as well.  I am not saying all closed source companies are bad because lets face it is their product and they have the right to do what ever they want with it.  I am not a huge fan of open source software because I dont feel that I use a computer enough to have my operations software be perfect.  I know what I need to know about my computer and I leave it lat that.  However someone may need their computer to be perfect so they should be able to tweak it to however they need it.  Open source software has many mixed emotions, but somehow the field of computers seems to just keep excelling by the day.