How the Open Source software development model works
How the Open Source software development model works
GRASS differs from many other GIS software packages used in the professional world in that it is developed and distributed by users for users; mostly on a volunteer basis, in the open, and is given away for free.
Emphasis is placed on interoperability and unlimited access to data as well as software flexibility and evolution rate (both added features and bug minimization).
Free can have many meanings, as the links below illustrate, and within a project there is often a spectrum of philosophies and goals amongst developers. But it works - Free Software has revolutionized many sectors of the computing world over the last few years and continues to do so today.
- Philosophy of the Free Software Movement
- The Open Source Initiative has a good explanation
- The Free Software Foundation
- The GNU General Public License
- Community based software development: The GRASS GIS project (presentation)