Open source software provides access to the computer program code used to create the product under a standard, public license.

How open source works

The open source software sector is a diverse ecosystem that includes hundreds of companies and  thousands of developers. Even Microsoft products, like Outlook and Visual Studio, incorporate open source components. Some companies, like Facebook, are built entirely on open source software, from the ground up.

While there are many sites and blogs that cover open source (see our Resources section), most have their own agenda, such as promoting a certain license, product, or methodology. Other sites, like Wikipedia and Open Directory, provide an assortment of background information in a “catch as catch can” way.

Open Advocacy celebrates “how open source works” by providing a concise and informative web site exploring the wide spectrum of open source participation, without preference to license, language, or platform.

Mission

Our mission is to

Open Advocacy also supports the Open Source Initiative’s plan to transition OSI to a member-based organization and become a meeting point for the global open source communities at large.

Content

The site provides information about “How open source works” and “How to learn more”.

How open source works:

• Answers – In Answers, explore the foundations of open source in a classic Q&A format.
• Profiles – In Profiles, see how various organizations put open source to work.
• Milestones – In Milestones, review notable events from the long, rich history of open source.

How to learn more:

• Books - In Books, browse titles covering the open source sector, software, and related subjects.
• Groups - In Groups, join the conversation on Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
• Jobs – In Jobs, find employment opportunities in the open source industry.
• Resources - In Resources, discover other sites devoted to open source topics.
• Listings –  In Listings, help us say “thank you” to our sponsors.

For more, see our Roadmap.