---
title: Open source software
description: "The basic idea behind open source software is to get around the control of software by commercial interests. #### Details OSS or FLOSS (Free, Libre & Open Source Software) is software that is released under one of a number of…"
url: "https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/open-source-software/"
updated: "2026-10-23"
category: All OM book glossary entries
---

# Open source software

The basic idea behind open source software is to get around the control of software by commercial interests.

#### Details

OSS or FLOSS (Free, Libre & Open Source Software) is software that is released under one of a number of open source licences. The differences between the various licences can be a minefield but the basic idea is simple: the software has been released under a licence that lasts for ever and which binds anyone reusing some or all of the source code (the programming that makes software work) top release what derivative software they create under the same, or, sometimes, a similar, licence.

This idea creates repositories of source code anyone is welcome to read, learn from and reuse. I try to use open source software whenever I can. Huge examples of FLOSS software include Linux (the operating system I use in preference to Windoze or MacThings); LibreOffice (which I use in preference to Micro$oft Office and many other programs, apps and utilities. I am particularly attached to R which is an open source statistics system that will run on most computers, is completely free (as it's open source) and underpins my Rblog and shiny server as well as all the statistical work I've done for the last twenty years or more.

#### Chapters

R was used for all the simulations and graphics in the book but doesn't really appear anywhere!

#### Online resources

[R itself](https://www.r-project.org/)
My [Rblog](https://www.psyctc.org/Rblog/) with lots of examples of R (and some non-R things!)
My [shiny server](https://shiny.psyctc.org/) which is (slowly) making increasing numbers of online apps that may be useful for MH/therapy data work available.

#### Dates

First created 14.viii.23, tweaks 23.x.26.