I know open source programs can be better in terms of privacy and security. At least potentially. For example if a messaging app is open source, everyone can see codes of this program on Github. If the program has backdoor, anyone can see it.
But how can we be sure, codes of app on Google Play Store is same as codes of Github? Could it be compiled in a different code has backdoor?
In: Technology
Open Source Software is something that you can modify as per your needs, share with others without any licensing violation burden.
When we say Open Source, the source code of the software is available publicly with Open Source licenses like GNU (GPL) which allows you to edit source code and distribute it. Read these licenses and you will realize that these licenses are created to help us.
The motive behind making this software is to create something which will be useful to users. When we say Open Source is free, the word free is not attached to the cost factor. Open-source software can be paid but source code must be attached to it. Also one of the main income sources for this software is service. By creating such software, you can always charge for services.
The simple philosophy of OSS is when we buy a vehicle then one can modify it, change its parts without the manufacturers’ consent (at cost of warranty of product though)but in the software world, this was not possible due to strict guidelines of EULAs we generally don’t read. OSS brings a concept that helps us to use software the same as we buy other things.
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