Speaking of the internet and various tech inventions, many people claim that they're all because of open-source technologies. Well, it's actually true. With all the inventions and breakthroughs in open-source technology, our lives have become significantly easier.

 

The Innovations and Breakthroughs that Shape Our Lives in Open-Source Technology

It's no surprise that open-source technology has made our lives a lot easier over the years. Most of all, it has shaped how businesses operate and function. From being a default choice for software to a preferred tool of business owners, designers, and programmers, open-source technology rules the world now.

In this article today, we're going to study open-source technology in detail, checking out all the innovations and breakthroughs in open-source technology as well as how it has become a must in our lives these days.

 

What is Open-Source Technology

Open-source is a licensing accord that lets users have complete access to the source code, allowing them to redistribute the software, modify it, copy it, and inspect it. In other words, open-source software is one that has its source code available to everyone.

It's entirely opposite to closed-source technologies that can be legally modified, inspected, or copied by only their creators. Open-source technologies, on the other hand, work on free-trade policies. They're open for everyone to use and they believe in collective success.

However, not all open-source technologies are free to use. While most of them are free, they have executive versions as well, which aren't free to use. Though anyone could purchase them, you do need to pay a little money sometimes before using them. Nevertheless, it is only for executive software, not for all.

 

5 of the Best Innovations and Breakthroughs in Open-Source Technology

Open-source technology has improved a lot over the years. There have been many innovations and breakthroughs that continue to improve our lives. Here are a few of the best innovations in open-source technology. Some of them may be old but they have been constantly improved; hence, worth mentioning.

 

Python

Speaking of open-source technology, one can never forget about Python. It's one of the most frequently used scripting and programming languages. It's open-source software that all programmers freely use. It runs everywhere, is quite easy to learn and use, and is probably one of the fastest programming languages ever. Due to all these reasons, it has become the top choice of pretty much all the programmers out there.

 

Linux

Linux is another frequently used open-source software. In fact, it's one of the most frequently used operating systems. It is used on both android devices and desktops. The best part of the story is that it allows you to customize it and is 100% free. Not to mention, it offers great community support, robust security features, and excellent user-friendliness, which makes it immensely popular.

 

Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is also open-source software. It is a virtual private network that allows you to browse the internet safely by hiding your IP address and location. It keeps you safe from hacking, viruses, and malware. However, it's mostly paid. It has a free version as well but it's quite restricted. In case you don't want to spend money on a VPN, you can try other free options. Many free, fast VPNs are available for both PCs and smartphones. They're open-source as well and will allow you similar benefits for free.

 

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox, a free internet browser that was born 20 years ago, is the best open-source invention so far. It brings along various plugins that you can access with merely a click. It's available for all Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android devices. It's free to redistribute, modify, and use. It has significantly shaped businesses as well as the tech industry, powering many technology giants like Microsoft, Facebook, and Google.

 

PHP

Like Python, PHP is another open-source programming language. It is used to create different digital platforms as well as interactive and dynamic web pages. It can also be embedded into HTML. The great thing about PHP is that it's the best programming language for beginners as it's simpler than all others. However, it doesn't mean that PHP doesn't have advanced features because it does. It powers many popular applications like Spotify and Slack.

 

The Takeaway

All these applications and browsers that we use today are powered by different open-source software. Thus, it won't be incorrect to say that open-source technologies are responsible for various innovations and breakthroughs in our lives and it has made our lives significantly easier and simpler. The tech world is rapidly changing and more and more things are being invented to make human life comfortable; all thanks to open-source technology,