Open source is a development methodology, which offers practical accessibility to a product’s source (goods and knowledge). The term open source gained popularity with the rise of the Internet, which provided access to diverse production models, communication paths, and interactive communities.
Open source 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, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.