Open Source

Open Source software is computer software whose source code is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose.

Open Source software is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process.

The promise of Open Source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, without predatory vendor lock-in.

The Linux kernel is an open-source monolithic Unix-like computer operating system kernel. The Linux family of operating systems is based on this kernel and deployed on both traditional computer systems such as personal computers and servers, and on various embedded devices such as Routers, Wireless Access Points, PBXes, Set-top Boxes, FTA Receivers, Smart TVs, NAS, NVR Surveillance, Automotive, Telecommunications. The Android operating system for Tablet Computers, Smartphones, and Smartwatches uses services provided by the Linux kernel to implement its functionality.

The GNU operating system is a complete free software system, upward-compatible with Unix. GNU stands for “GNU's Not Unix.”

Whilst the adoption of GNU/Linux on desktop personal computers is low, Linux-based operating systems dominate nearly every other segment of computing, from Mobile Devices to Mainframes.

Since November 2017 all the world’s Top500 Supercomputers use an operating system based on the Linux kernel, including Azure.