open-source software vs open source software

Both "open-source software" and "open source software" are correct. The hyphenated version, "open-source software," is more commonly used and preferred in formal and technical writing. However, in casual or informal contexts, both forms are acceptable.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 560 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used, especially in formal and technical writing.

"open-source software"

This phrase refers to software that is released with a license that allows the source code to be freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. It is typically hyphenated in formal contexts.

Examples:

Open-source software encourages collaboration among developers.
Many companies rely on open-source software for their operations.
The benefits of open-source software include transparency and flexibility.
Contributing to open-source software projects can be rewarding.
Open-source software has led to innovations in various industries.

Show examples from the web [+]

conducting code reviews of critical open-source software.
OLAT is an open-source software according to the definitions of the
inter alia, with reference to open-source software
The online collection of signatures should be facilitated by the Commission by making available an open-source software.
But you simply do that by clicking on a few way points on the Google Maps interface using the open-source software.
Standards can contribute to less fragmentation of markets and the use of open-source software can also make a considerable contribution to promoting on-line security.
The system requirements document has been completed and two open-source software packages (Jenkins and FitNesse) have been identified that together satisfy the Preparatory Commission's requirements.
We further regret the fact that Parliament did not approve the amendment tabled by our Parliamentary group calling for the use of open-source software in the EP.
In order for the open-source software to guarantee that the online collection of signatures is simple, unified in all the Member States and respects the data protection requirements, the Commission should inform the Parliament on the progress made.
The Commission shall inform the European Parliament of the state of progress in the creation of the open-source software no later than three months after the entry into force of this Regulation.
(optional) use of open-source software: office software,
Within six months following the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall make available an open-source software incorporating some of the technical and security features necessary for compliance with the provisions of this Regulation regarding the online collection systems.
Open-source software, the core promise of the open-source license, is that everybody should have access to all the source code all the time, but of course, this creates the very threat of chaos you have to forestall in order to get anything working.
And that began with open-source software.
Incidentally, the Commission itself, to my disappointment, is not using open-source software either, and neither is Parliament.
Both the general public and the Union institutions regularly use and depend on free and open-source software - from end-user devices up to server systems.
It is also important to give open-source software a further boost and to address the energy issue, since the programme does not pay sufficient attention to renewables.
And after that initial prototype, we set out to make free and open-source software so that others do not have to start from scratch like we did.
Preparatory action - Governance and quality of software code - Auditing of free and open-source software
Mr President, the European Parliament today has voted on legislation that will slow down the rate of technological advance, narrow consumer choice, increase the price of software and destroy the free and open-source software industry in Europe.

Alternatives:

open source software
software that is open source
software released under an open-source license
software with open-source code
software available for open-source development

This phrase is correct and can be used in casual or informal contexts.

"open source software"

This phrase also refers to software that is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. It is the unhyphenated form of the term and is more commonly used in casual or informal writing.

Examples:

I prefer using open source software for my personal projects.
Open source software often relies on community contributions.
The company decided to adopt open source software solutions.
Many developers contribute to open source software projects.
Open source software has gained popularity in recent years.

Show examples from the web [+]

Use of open source software and free access to engineering technologies and standards should be encouraged.
If you write open source software you can use the Qt free edition.
Subject: Use of open source software in the Commission
Open standards and open source software are ready to be used in public institutions.
So, you know, we have open source software, we have Creative Commons and other kinds of Copyleft solutions.
Calls on the Commission to conduct a study on conflicts between users of open source software and certification authorities concerning software defined radios;
We will provide all the open source software for them, maybe starting next month.
In this context, our IT services are currently working on the issue of compatibility with other systems including open source software.
The potential use of open source software allowing the secure access of authorised SST data contributors to the source code for operational modifications and improvements should contribute to that objective.
Has the Commission estimated how much it could save by using open standards and open source software?
The Foreign Office in Germany already began converting its IT infrastructure to Linux and open source software in 2000, and publicised its positive experiences with the operating system and software.
Does the Commission regard it as its job to press ahead with converting European Union institutions to open standards and open source software?
Calls for greater investment in the use of open source software in the EU;
the results of the project are widely disseminated through conferences, publication, open access repositories, or free or open source software.
Subject: Obstacles to open source software and the far-reaching dependence of government office equipment on a limited number of software producers and their expensive licences
This is a pretty remarkable program using free and open source software, cheap, sort of hacked-together machines, and basically sort of abandoned buildings -
threat analysis and security concepts for emerging ICT technologies: open source software, copy, protection, web technologies, international data protection and privacy, anonymity, social computing
develop the means for exchanging tools within the ESS and promote the use of Open Source Software for that purpose, and
KDE is open source software, and all of KDE is released under free licences such as the GPL.
- a positioning as European leader in Intel 64-bit architecture-based solutions and open source software in target markets,

Alternatives:

open-source software
software that is open-source
software released as open source
software with open source code
software available as open source

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open-source software vs open source software

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