Open source

Origin

While the spirit of shared code has roots in the earliest days of computing, the term "open source" itself burst onto the scene in 1998, born from a need for re-branding. Before this, the movement was known as "free software," a powerful philosophical concept that often misled people into thinking it meant "gratis" rather than "freedom" to modify and distribute. A pivotal meeting of advocates, including Christine Peterson, Todd Anderson, and Jon Hall, sought a new, more commercially palatable and less ambiguous label. They landed on "open source," a term that instantly shifted the focus from abstract liberty to tangible benefits: transparency, collaboration, and reliability. This strategic pivot helped propel the movement from a niche ideal into a mainstream powerhouse, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of modern technological innovation.