What is Open Source Operating System?

[stuartkspindlow]

Hello Friends,

Please tell me what is open source operating system.

[webhostwala]

Opensource means you have the full control of the code by which its created and everyone has the ability to change it according to their needs.
You can customise it ,see it and understand its logic.Linux is the best-known and most-used open source operating system. As an operating system, Linux is software that sits underneath all of the other software on a computer, receiving requests from those programs and relaying these requests to the computer's hardware.

[RH-Calvin]

Generically, open source refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open. Self-referentially, short for GNU's not UNIX, a UNIX-compatible software system developed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF).

[unlimiteddata]

Linux is the best-known and most-used open source operating system. As an operating system, Linux is software that sits underneath all of the other software on a computer, receiving requests from those programs and relaying these requests to the computer's hardware.

[JohnBaxter]

Linux is the best-known and most-used open source operating system. As an operating system, Linux is software that sits underneath all of the other software on a computer, receiving requests from those programs and relaying these requests to the computer's hardware.

[pablohunt2812]

Open source means its open to all, anyone can get the source code and make desirable changes.

Ex:
Android is open source, so phones of different manufacturer have different look and feel to it. Samsung has touchwiz ui, htc has sense, etc. The code that google provides is called stock code. Manufacturers change it according to their needs and add functionalities to their phones to make them different from others. Like Samsung's newly released note 4 has support for stylus, lg g3 has its own awesome multitasking or the camera features and many new amazing features that stock Android doesn't have. This is open source, even you can download the source code and make your own android.

Closed open source:
Ex: Windows phone
You will see that every windows phone has the same UI, look and feel. Everything is the same. You only get different preinstalled apps and different hardware. Microsoft provides the source code with restrictions. It does not allow to change the UI and the main code.

Closed source
Ex: apple iphone
Apple does not allow other manufacturers to get their source code. Only apple has it. You cant get the code and modify it the way you like.

Open source
Ex: linux
Linux foundations developed the linux OS. It made it open source. Now there different varients of linux like ubuntu, redhat, etc available.

Basically you can get the code written by someone else legally, and can modify it, add or remove certain things or features, make a different UI and make your own thing and name it whatever you want.