Since 2000, the meaning given to « open source » is moving towards new steps by the diversification of code sharing practices and the development of other open movements.
Back from its formalization in 1998, « open source » was associated with the idea of sharing software with its source code without restrictions, following the « Open Source Definition » adopted by the Open Source Initiative.
Different approach of code sharing exists since early days of computers and more of them are flourishing over the time for a variety of motivations with the democratization of « open source ». In some extent, limitations near an available source code have been around since a really long time through a traditional use of licenses.
Following the open source movement, Microsoft launched the Shared Source Initiative in 2001 to show that they are fine with collaboratives practices around Microsoft product. (Or how to treat linux as a cancer and create FUD while mimicking their practices.)
An approach with the code open is seen increasingly as viable for business but with now open source companies struggling with GAFAM monopolies using non-competitive licensing, open resources sustain also evil so the realisition of problems generated by openness lead to an ethical movement with potentialy usage restrictions.
Around this idea of source sharing being (re)popularized for different typologies of players, philosophies vary.
What is then « open source » when sources are being open in these heteroclite manners ? The question has been growing for the past 20 years, and political split around it appear with initiatives like the Organization for Ethical source created in december 2020.
The language becomes a place of conflict, used as a barrier between these philosophies: source available, ethical source, shared source, post-open source, fauxpen source... Contested words for overlapping ideas with open source remaining the main umbrella.
Within software communities, the notion of « open source » is challenged. By the end of 90' and early 2000', other open movement arrived, with open hardware (1997), open content and education (1998~2002), the Open Access/Science movement affirmed in 2002-2003 with Budapest, Berlin and Bethesda declarations and so on.
New kind of digital resources being shared openly, where there are challenges around sources of resources to enable modifications.
Arrived and thought within the software world, it's slowly becoming something else not only associated to software "source code".
Having matured for 25 years, « open source » is evolving and is being redefined over the years in this post-2000s era.
[Publication related to the project open-source-undefined.org and work on history]
Image: Toa Heftiba, Unsplash
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