User:Aeong/Open Source Hardware And Software

Open Source is a broad definition that referring to technological hardware and software that have their schematics or code available to the public. They are often copyrighted under a non-restrictive license that allows anyone to make, modify, redistribute, and in some cases sell. (be more descriptive if possible.)

Importance of Open Source in Hardware

In the early days of modern technology, hardware often had its schematics semi-available, making it easier to repair. As Planned Obsolescence has taken root in the modern world, companies have made their devices harder to repair, and have began to argue that sharing schematics will bankrupt them. It has become so hard to repair that it is often cheaper to buy a new device than repair it. This has significantly contributed to e-waste. It has allowed corporations to monopolize knowledge, making it much harder to learn about sophisticated technology unless you are connected to them. Open source hardware isn't the full solution to this problem, but it can help democratize knowledge, make repair easier, and make replacement parts easier to obtain.

Importance of Open Source in Software

In the early days of software, all software had its code made freely available for programmers to modify. However, as time passed, software became increasingly closed off for the sake of profit. With its source code closed off, programmers could discreetly hide malicious code in their software. It also made software harder for anyone but the dev team to debug. Hackers attempted to report security holes in the software to the corporations that owned it, but these corporations responded by trying to get these hackers into legal trouble. In the modern day, many pieces of closed-source software will spy on your activity and send that data to data brokers. (Rewrite some of this)

Important distinction

Open source as a concept has been co-opted by corporations, and has had its meaning watered down over time (remove this entire line of text with something better, preferably with a bit of history first)

Open Source Hardware Projects

• Arduino
• RISC-V
• Open Source Ecology

Open Source Software Resources

• Software Licenses
• Linux

See Also

• Right to Repair
• Copyleft