Open Source Resource Center

Quick Start

All software products are created with source code. With open source, the code is protected by a license that ensures that access to the code remains available to all who use it. Unlike proprietary software products, users can see and modify the structure of the software as needed. This allows for a continuous and thorough QA process, as bugs can be identified and fixed much faster than with closed source models. In addition, many types of open source software, such as the products in the JBoss Enterprise Middleware System (JEMS), have zero licensing fees.

Open source has several main elements, including:

Development Process	Open source is developed through a global community of committers. Unlike proprietary software development, open source is not limited to the individuals hired by a specific company. Individuals contribute pieces of the technology, and through an extensive peer review, the best contributions are included in the final product. This collaborative process provides more innovation and bleeding-edge technology, faster and more securely that through closed source methods.
Community	The health of an open source product can be measured in part by the size and activity levels of its community. A popular project with a large community has more research and development capabilities, more effective QA and review, and typically attracts the best software developers from all over the world as committers.
Licenses	Open source is protected by a special license that ensures that the code remains available to all who use it. More information can be found on our Licensing overview page.
Fees or Royalties	Most open source software is free to use. All JBoss software products have zero licensing fees. It is our belief that the talented individuals who create our software deserve the right to make a living from their work, and that businesses want the security and services offered by traditional software companies. Please visit our Professional Open Source page to learn more about our business model.
Reciprocity Obligation	Anyone may make changes to open source software for use within your own company. Some open source licenses require you to share those internal changes with the rest of the community; others do not. In addition, most licenses require that users who distribute changed versions of open source software are also required to share those changes with the rest of the community by publishing that changed source code. This is known as reciprocity obligation. To learn more about open source licenses and their requirements, visit our Licenses page.