Open Source Software? Top 10 Open Source Software Examples Of 2021

List of Top 10 Open Source Software Examples of 2021

What Is Open Source Software?

Open - source software can be described in simple terms as a program that has been made available to the public . It can be used, modified & distributed by anyone having the requisite skills for this purpose. 

This term was introduced back in the 90's by "The Open Source Initiative ( OSI). 

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It makes sense to highlight out here, that such softwares are more directed towards niche solutions . They are driven towards working for a niche solutions.

The best part about such softwares revolve around the fact, that they are available / accessible to general public. Since they can be obtained with a fair amount of ease therefore, it is fairly easy to involve them for digital solutions. This has been a major hallmark of such softwares. They are beneficial for Tech Savvy people . Buying expensive softwares may not be a feasible proposition for a lot of people. People with sound financial status can always go for latest softwares as they have the necessary support for it . What about others ? This is one of the factor owing to which  such software appears extremely helpful. 

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You must be aware of the fact , that although Open source software is free to use however, that doesn't mean that anyone and everyone can use it. It sticks to lines of code ( and it's variations) that are available. So this point must be kept in mind. 

So in all probability , you will require a qualified and competent software developer to examine that code , customize it to match your requirements / specifications and integrate / fits it into your existing operations. So it involves a fairly complex process. A layman will struggle to take care of all these steps mentioned above. You need to possess the requisite domain knowledge and necessary technical skills pertaining to this field or else you will have to utilise the services of a qualified professional to get the job done for you.

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Open Source Software vs. Free Source Software

It is noteworthy, that there lies a difference between free source & open source software. Most of the people, tend to consider both to be the same due to resemblance in terms of their name . We need to distinguish between them .

Although they are same to a great extent since they offer similar licenses, but share different terminologies. This is a key difference which segregates both.

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Free source software got introduced back in 1980's by Richard Stallman. The main purpose of such softwares were to ensure that all the users gets the privilege to operate, copy, share , study , change and improve such softwares.

When we look at the history of open source software , we come to know that a group of Individuals decided to launch such softwares owing to the limitations of free source software. These softwares were introduced in late 1990's.

These group of individuals felt the need to change the focus from freedom to security, which in turn offered certain other benefits in the form of cost savings as well as transparency.

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It's important to clarify, that all free source softwares can be regarded as open source softwares , but not all open source softwares can qualify as free softwares, the reason being all open source softwares are not free. 

Take for instance the case of open Watcom, which is an integrated development environment and it's license can neither be modified nor used privately.

On the other hand , Velo by Wix , a full - stack development platform that assist to create advanced websites to brands and development agencies, is an open development environment. 

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Next we will check out top 10 Open Source Software of 2021.

Top 10 Open Source Software Examples of 2021

1. Mozilla Firefoo

Mozilla Firefox is regarded as such an internet browser which is customizable. It is a free open source software. This platform holds 3.98% of the worldwide browser market share. It is available in Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. One of the best facility of this browser is that, it provides plenty of plugins and these can be accessed with a single click of your mouse.

2. LibreOffice

Looking for a complete suite then no looking beyond Libreoffice, the reason being it is a complete suite ranging from spread sheets , databases , documents to presentations. It offers all. It comes absolutely free. Yes, for the purpose of  extending support , the users can donate when they download it. It has a massive pool of contributers.

It has a live chat and a forum meant for searching . It is available in Windows, Linux as well as Mac.

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3. GIMP-GNU Image Manipulation Program

This list will never be complete , if we fail to incorporate GIMP in this list. It is an example of a very good open software source. The features associated with some expensive softwares like filters & effects etc are made available by this photo editing tools despite being free. So it's a great boon for the users. It is available across various platforms including Windows and Linux. 

4. VLC Media Player

If you have to name one of the most popular examples of open source software , invariably you can name VLC Media Player. This is extensively used for video, audio files and media. It also plays disc, streams and devices alongside webcams. Users also prefers using it for streaming podcasts. It runs effectively in Windows, iOS, Mac OS x, Linux , Android etc. One can customize audio and video files. It is handy for creating customize designs.

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5. Linux

Are you looking for one of the most user - friendly open source software then you got to know more about Linux. It is used for Android devices as well as desktops. It's greatest plus is that, it costs nothing on top of that , it is customizable. It is highly secure as well. 

6. Blender

Another best example of open source software is Blender. It is renowned for animation,  video editing, simulation, motion tracking etc. It is regarded as a 3D graphics and animation tools. It provides plenty  of facilities including multi- resolution , support for Planar tracking, real-time viewpoint prereview etc. 

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7. GNU Compiler Collection

The source offered by GNU Compiler Collection are freely available in weekly snapshots and SVN. GNU Compiler Collection can be considered as collection of compilation tools meant for software development in the C, C++, Ada , Fortran as well as other languages required for programming.

8. Python

One of the most common programming and scripting language regarded handy by custom software developers happens to be Python. It has made a name for itself in machine learning. IEEE has stated that , it was the most popular language in the year 2019. This open source software is fairly easy to use, which has added to it's value from users point of view. 

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9. PHP-Hypertext Preprocessor

It will be as good as committing a harakiri, if we miss out mentioning the name of PHP , as it qualifies as one of the best open source software examples of 2021. For creating websites and other digital platforms , it plays a massive role. It powers some popular websites apart from being flexible and pretty fast. 

10. Shotcut

If you are looking for a video editor capable of offering powerful support in audio and webcam capture, EDL export, text, noise, color as well as counter generators then no point, looking here and there. Your search comes to an end , if you access Shotcut. It is available for macOS, Linux as well as Windows. It is highly potent in editing audio and video files.

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Conclusion 

In this article we have incorporated all the major open source software trending now a days . By going through this article , you must have got a good grasp of these softwares and how beneficial they are in the context of helping the users. You must have seen that all of them have got some great advantages and offers excellent facilities. Depending upon your requirements you can pick the one , that you feel will serve you the best. People having the necessary technical expertise can start accessing & using these softwares . Go ahead and start using these softwares for the purpose of supporting your computer related activities. 

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