The free/open-source movement is arguably one of the greatest movements in the history of mankind, as it allows the freedom of unlimited peer-review. While it is technically intended to be confined to the realm of software, the concept can be practically applied to many other aspects of life such as skateboarding, architecture, music... anything really. The bounds to where open-source may be applied conceptually are only limited by our ability to dream up and share information. Any aspect of life where we are capable of sharing information with one another can apply the open-source model.
Open-source software has to provide the source code, and allow modifications and works derived from the original to be freely distributed. As a method of preserving the original's works integrity, certain forms of the license require derived works to change the name or version number from the original. The license must not be specific to a product, it must not restrict other software, and must be absolutely technology neutral.
A more in depth definition of open-source can be found at here, with the various approved derivatives of the license found on this page
During the late 70's/early 80's modern computers of the time had proprietary operating systems that in order to use you had to sign a contract that prevented you from sharing anything with anybody else. Which one could argue as Bill Gates did back in 1976, that it made sense from a financial aspect. On the contrary according to Richard Stallman, the founder of the movement who worked in the MIT Artificial Intelligence lab during this time, the practice made it hard for groups such as his to reach their goals. Imagine if every musician had to teach themselves how to play and was banned from sharing their work with other people. This is a ridiculous concept that is completely stifling to progress and innovation which is why Richard began the free/open source software movement with the creation of the practice known as "copyleft", one where the creator copyrights the material with a license that allows anyone to freely view, modify, distribute and create derivative works of the original.
Over the years additions have been made, and the movement has evolved to be more inclusive and lay out better guidelines about what is and is not open-source. Distinctions within the movement have been made as well with some advocating for more while others advocating for less freedom. Many of our greatest technological innovations began as open-source projects such as the very platform that this blog is bring written on. Busy.org is built on top of the Steem blockchain which is a lightning fast open-source public distributed ledger that is a modified derivative of the bitcoin software. The Steem blockchain is over 1000 times faster, than bitcoin, more secure and has advanced smart contract functionality that is only possible because of the extensive network of developers working around the clock and around the world to edit, review and add additions to the code of not only bitcoin and this project, but every other project within the blockchain space as they are all constantly sharing code and ideas.
The key innovation with the modern free/open-source movement is that were dropping the software and figuring out how we can apply it to other aspects of our lives. In many aspects it has already been applied such as in the skateboarding and music communities. Both of which since their inception have promoted the sharing of ones ideas while still allowing a framework for those who wish to monetize all while attributing credit to where its due. Others such as in the architectural industry organizations such as ours are pioneering the conceptual migration.
Here at Open-Forge we are utilizing blockchain technology to create a platform that incentivises the open-source model in non traditional fields by rewarding those who create, edit, rate, review, collaborate on and invest in projects under the open-source licenses. Most notably were applying it to finance which is allowing us to shatter the notion once held by those such as Bill Gates that the free/open-source movement is inhibitory toward progress.
