There is a form of software that combines the contributions of many different software engineers from all around the world and it is called open-source software. Open-source software is released under a license that grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software for any purpose they want. The importance is emphasized by this simple phrase, “two heads are always better than one.”
I have not contributed to any open-source software because I do not know enough about it to make a difference. I do understand its importance though. Imagine trying to make your own operating system while removing all of the flaws that present systems have. You would have to start from the ground up. It would take a single person a lifetime to code all of that. That’s where the coding community comes into play. Make it open source and others will help in any capacity they can. Young coders especially like this because they can put it on a resume.
The problem with open-source coding is not everything that is contributed is beneficial. There are coders out there ranging from veteran to new. Both may contribute code for the same purpose but in different ways. One may be better than the other in which point the bad code needs to be sifted through and discarded.
Checking to make sure the code received is coming from talented individuals is key. Not every idea somebody has is a good one. That is concept lost on young people nowadays posting everything they do to their social media sites.
What are your thoughts on open-source software? Have any of you contributed to any? If so, how?
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