Open Source
Adjective · Noun · Open Source · Origin: 1998
Definitions
Open Source refers to software whose source code is publicly available, allowing anyone to view, modify, distribute, and use it, typically under a license that defines the terms of use. The open-source movement, formalized in 1998 by the Open Source Initiative (OSI), grew out of the free software movement led by Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation. Open-source software powers much of the modern internet: Linux runs most servers, Apache and Nginx serve most web traffic, and tools like Git, Docker, Kubernetes, and PostgreSQL are foundational to software development. The collaborative development model, often hosted on GitHub, enables contributions from developers worldwide. Popular licenses include MIT (permissive, minimal restrictions), Apache 2.0 (includes patent grants), and GPL (copyleft, requiring derivative works to also be open source). Open source creates a virtuous cycle where shared code reduces duplication, accelerates innovation, and allows scrutiny that improves security and quality.
In plain English: Software whose code anyone can see, use, change, and share — like a recipe that's publicly available for anyone to cook, modify, and redistribute.
Etymology
- 1983
- Richard Stallman launches GNU project and the Free Software movement
- 1998
- Christine Peterson coins 'open source' at a strategy session in Palo Alto
- 1998
- Open Source Initiative (OSI) founded to promote the term
Origin Story
A naming meeting in Palo Alto that changed software forever
In February 1998, a small group of free software advocates met in Palo Alto, California. They had a branding problem: Richard Stallman's 'free software' movement was philosophically powerful but commercially toxic. Businesses heard 'free' and thought 'no revenue.'
Christine Peterson suggested the term 'open source' as an alternative that emphasized the practical benefits — transparency, collaboration, reliability — without the ideological baggage. The room agreed. Within weeks, Eric S. Raymond, Bruce Perens, and others founded the Open Source Initiative.
The rebranding worked spectacularly. By framing the movement around pragmatic engineering benefits rather than moral imperatives, 'open source' made the concept palatable to corporations. Today, virtually every major tech company both uses and contributes to open-source software.
Coined by: Christine Peterson
Context: Strategy session, Palo Alto, February 1998
Fun fact: Christine Peterson's role in coining the term was largely uncredited for years. She didn't publicize it because she felt the movement mattered more than who named it.