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Open and Closed Source and What It Means

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Open and Closed Source and What It Means
Open and Closed Source Systems
June 24, 2013

Open and Closed Source System
What Open Source Means
Open-Source means it is free. No one owns it, so there is no source code, no key code, and no licensing to purchase. When Linus Torvalds created Linux, he determined that the more people or, the more minds delving into the software can make the system more creative, more improved, and the possibilities are endless. Thus, he gave Linux to the world as a free open-source operating system ("Damicon; Linking The Left Brain And The Right Brain: Open Vs. Closed Source", 2003-2009).
Open-Source is defined by the code or source code is accessible to person or persons who essentially use it or in IT definition: end-user. The user can revise and refashion or change it, as long as he or she adhere to the standards in the associated license ("Damicon; Linking The Left Brain And The Right Brain: Open Vs. Closed Source", 2003-2009).
How Open Source is different from Closed Source
Closed-Source is owned by someone, or some company, and cost money. The buyer has to pay for the right to use the program, but the buyer does not own it. In the case of Microsoft Windows companies have to purchase licensing rights can purchase keys codes in volume, and individuals pay for their key codes, or rights to use the software or program ("Damicon; Linking The Left Brain And The Right Brain: Open Vs. Closed Source", 2003-2009).
Closed Source is also defined in that the code or source code is retained and maintained by the designer or developer, and they are the only ones that can make changes to it, analyze it, or scrutinize it ("Damicon; Linking The Left Brain And The Right Brain: Open Vs. Closed Source", 2003-2009).

Linux Linux is an open-source version of the UNIX operating system. It has been said According to What Is Linux And Why Is It So Popular? (1998-2013), it is as “much a phenomenon as it is an operating system” (para. 4). The original version or first version of UNIX was



References: Damicon; linking the left-brain and the right brain: Open vs. Closed Source. (2003- 2009). Retrieved from http://www.damicon.com/resources/openvsclosed.html What is Linux and why is it so popular. (1998-2013). Retrieved from http://www.howstuffworks.com/question246.html  Tech Target. (2013). What is Windows? Definition from WhatIs.com. Retrieved from http://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/definition/Windows Mac OS X Definition. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.techterms.com/definition/macosx GNU General Public License, Version 3 29 June 2007. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html GNU Operating System: What is Copyleft?. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/ Erdman, J. (2002-2005). Get a Clue Microsoft Licensing: The Microsoft Licensing Guide. Retrieved from http://www.networkclue.com/os/windows/licensing/index.aspx Microsoft. (2013). Microsoft Volume Licensing: About Licensing. Retrieved from

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