Open-source computer software is software whose source code is either in the public domain or, more commonly, is copyrighted by one or more persons or entities but licensed to all according to an Open Source License Such a license grants permission to use and redistribute the software, as well as to modify its Source Code and distribute modified versions, with at most minor restrictions (such as a requirement to preserve the authors' name and copyright statement in the code).
The basic idea behind open source is very simple: When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing. For more information on Open Source see the Open Source Initiative Website.
Open Source software used in the APUIM service includes the Gateways, the Psi Jabber Client, and the Linux which runs the Jabber service. Most Open Source software is also Free Software which allows APU to use it without licensing costs.
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