Open source software is software in which the source code used to create the program is freely available for the public to view, edit, and redistribute. Any type of software program can be open source, including operating systems, databases, applications, games, and even programming languages.
Advantages of using open source:
When something is referred to as 'open source', it means that people can modify and share the code because its design is publicly accessible. Anybody can modify the code to suit their own needs. Open source technology has been around for quite some time now. In the early days of software development, code was shared among developers so they could learn from each other and advance the sector. Here are some fundamental advantages I believe open source offers over proprietary solutions:
FLEXIBILITY AND AGILITY
IT leaders must fundamentally provide flexibility and agility for their enterprise. If you can't compete on agility, you're going to get left behind by the competition. Open source enables technology agility, typically offering multiple ways to solve problems. Open source helps keep your IT organization from getting blocked because a particular capability isn't available from a vendor. Instead of waiting for the vendor to deliver that capability, you can create it yourself.