Quiz Of The Week: What is the source of open-source?

Everybody likes free stuff. From freecycle to “buy one, get one free” offers, getting something for nothing is a great feeling. It is not surprising that free software has become an important part of the IT ecosystem. What is surprising, however, is the sheer number of people that are willing to spend sleepless nights writing code to give away to their neighbours. Who are not going to even say “thank you”.

Thank you open source!

So we will say it on their behalf: THANK YOU, OPEN-SOURCE DEVELOPERS!

Open-source software, as has often been said, is not free as in “free beer”. It is free as in “free speech”, a liberation from the toils of proprietary software makers.

Open source software is available in source code form. Anyone can take it apart, change it, improve and distribute without paying a penny. You can even sell it, as long as you obey the rules of the licence.

Test your knowledge of the open-source software.

Take the Quiz!

And if you score well on that quiz, try some of our others.

Max Smolaks

Max 'Beast from the East' Smolaks covers open source, public sector, startups and technology of the future at TechWeekEurope. If you find him looking lost on the streets of London, feed him coffee and sugar.

View Comments

  • "One thing you absolutely, positively cannot do with open-source software is sell it."

    What???????????? You absolutely can! And, Stallman would be the first to agree.

    Either, i have missed something, or the author needs to get a clue about what they speak.

Recent Posts

NASA, Boeing To Begin Starliner Testing After ‘Anomalies’

American space agency prepares for testing of Boeing's Starliner, to ensure it has two space…

2 days ago

Meta Launches Friends Tab, As Zuck Touts ‘OG Facebook’

Zuckerberg seeks to revive Facebook's original spirit, as Meta launches Facebook Friends tab, so users…

2 days ago

WhatsApp Appeal Against EU Fine Backed By Court Advisor

Notable development for Meta, after appeal against 2021 WhatsApp privacy fine is backed by advisor…

3 days ago

Intel Board Shake-Up As Three Members Confirm Retirement

First sign of shake-up under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan? Three Intel board members confirm they…

3 days ago

Trump’s SEC Pick Pledges ‘Coherent’ Crypto Rules

Trump's nominee for SEC Chairman, Paul Atkins, has pledged a “rational, coherent, and principled approach”…

3 days ago