Objective:
By the end of the lesson, students will understand the key concepts of open source
systems, their advantages and disadvantages, and how they are used in practice.
Introduction to Open Source Software
Definition: Open source software is software with publicly available source code,
allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and distribute it. This differs from proprietary
software, which has restricted access to its source code.
Common Licenses in Open Source:
GPL (General Public License): Ensures that the software and its derivatives remain
open.
MIT: Allows reuse of code with few restrictions.
Apache: Similar to MIT but includes more specifications on patents.
Popular Examples:
Linux: Operating system based on the Linux kernel.
Mozilla Firefox: Web browser.
Apache HTTP Server: Web server.
WordPress: Content management system.
Fundamental Principles of Open Source (15 minutes)
Freedom to Use:
Users can run the software for any purpose without restrictions.
Access to Source Code:
The code is accessible for anyone to read, modify, and redistribute.
Community Collaboration:
Most open source projects are maintained and improved by an active community of
developers worldwide.
Transparency and Security:
With visible source code, errors and vulnerabilities can be quickly identified and
corrected by the community.
Advantages of Open Source
Transparency and Control: Users have complete control over the software, allowing
modifications to meet their needs.
No Licensing Costs: Unlike proprietary software, open source is generally free,
reducing acquisition and maintenance costs.
Community Support: Open source projects often have active user and developer
communities offering support through forums, groups, and documentation.
Innovation and Rapid Development: Open collaboration and access to code allow for
faster innovation and continuous software improvement.
Disadvantages of Open Source
Lack of Professional Support: Unlike proprietary software, technical support may not
be as professional or prompt, although some projects offer paid support.
Learning Curve: Some open source systems may be more complex to use or
configure, especially if they lack user-friendly interfaces.
Compatibility and Standards: Open source systems may sometimes be incompatible
with proprietary software or industry standards.
Security (although generally more secure): While open source is often more secure
due to visibility, it can also be susceptible to vulnerabilities that may not be
immediately detected.
Applications and Use Cases
Operating Systems:
Linux: Used in servers, embedded devices, and supercomputers. Examples include
Ubuntu and Fedora.
Web Development:
WordPress: Used for creating blogs and websites.
Drupal: Open source CMS for more complex sites.
Databases:
MySQL: Database management system.
PostgreSQL: Object-relational database.
Development Tools:
Git: Version control system used by millions of developers.
Eclipse: Open source integrated development environment (IDE).
Cloud Applications:
OpenStack: Platform for managing private clouds.
Education:
Moodle: Open source online learning platform.
Projects and Contribution
How to Contribute to an Open Source Project:
Fork the project repository.
Make your changes on a separate branch.
Submit a pull request with your changes to the original repository.
Platforms to Find Projects:
GitHub: The most popular platform for hosting open source projects.
GitLab: An alternative to GitHub for open source projects.
SourceForge: Platform hosting a large number of older projects.
Practical Activity
Explore an Open Source Project: Students can choose a project on GitHub and
observe its code structure, read some code comments, and see how issues are
managed.
Demonstration of a Fork and Pull Request:
Make a small modification to a public repository and show how to fork and submit a
pull request.
Conclusion
Recap:
Open source software promotes transparency, collaboration, and freedom.
Key advantages include cost savings, security, and control, while disadvantages
include lack of professional support and potential compatibility issues.
Reflection: Open source is a fundamental part of today’s technology ecosystem.
Many widely used services, from servers to mobile applications, are based on open
source projects.
