Introduction To Open Source Vocabulary

What is open source software?

Open source software (OSS) is software whose source code is made available to the public. In this way, it is available for use, modification, and distribution with its own rights. Source code is part of the software that most users don't see, it's code that programmers manipulate to control how a program or application behaves. Programmers with access to source code can change a program by adding to it, changing it, or fixing sections of it that arent working properly. OSS includes a license that permits programmers to modify a piece of software to best fit their needs or user's needs and control how the software can be distributed.

Open source vocabulary

To be able to delve into the world of open source and in the process have a smooth transition it is imperative for one to know the vocabulary used. Here are some of the terms used in open source:

Repository: It is a collection of files and folders associated with a project, along with each file's revision history. Mostly managed by version control.
Collaborators/Contributors: These are people who take part in the contribution process. It can be through code, documentation, reviews, etc.
Commit: A commit indicates changes made to files and folders in a repository. It provides a history of changes made.
Forking: It is making a copy of a repository from one user's account when you don't have write access to it. So you can just copy it and modify it under your own account.
Pull request: When you have made changes and you want to update the changes to the original repository you make a pull request.
Merge: It is when the owner of the original accepts the changes you've made and updates the changes to the original repository. If your pull request is accepted by the owner then you get its credit on the original site and shows up in your user profile
Branch: When you want to make changes to a repository you create a branch and then check it out.
Maintainers: They are in charge of making decisions, code reviews, and supervising the project.
Code review: Acts as quality assurance of a code base. Help in identifying bugs, increase code quality, and help developers understand/ or learn the source code.
Issues: Mostly used in reporting bugs and requesting features. Sometimes it hosts discussions, helps process support requests, or even submits documentation feedback.
README.md : It serves as the face of the project. It introduces and explains a project by providing a detailed description of the project.
CONTRIBUTING.md : A CONTRIBUTING.md file, in an open source repository or site, provides potential project contributors with a short guide to how they can help with the project.
CODE-OF-CONDUCT: It is a document that establishes expectations for behavior for a project's participant. Defines standards for how to engage in a community