Users

Open source software is software developed by and for the user community. Discover the wide variety of open source applications, from productivity applications to calendaring or email software , and learn more about the benefits of personal use.

Developers

Open source projects provide tremendous opportunities for developers to share and learn through collaboration. Find colleagues for your project or join an existing effort. Contributions aren't limited to code, as projects need a diverse range of skills.

Business

Driving innovation requires optimizing how a company creates, deploys & uses software assets. Find out how enterprises have realized the promise of open source: higher quality, greater reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.

Non-Profit

Whether serving as a foundation in support of an open source software project or harnessing open source infrastructure for day-to-day operations in support of any mission, learn how the open source ethos of contribution & community helps make life for NPO & NGO staffers easier.

Education

Many of the world’s most successful open source projects have their roots in the academy. Participation extends beyond adoption and development, and now includes a wide variety of academic programs and research. Discover how your institution can benefit from open source software.

Government

Governments around the globe recognize the value of open source as both a technology solution delivering value to the public they serve as well as an approach for development returning tax-payer investments back to the society they represent.

To promote and protect open source...

As a global non-profit, The Open Source Initiative (OSI) protects and promotes open source software, development and communities, championing software freedom in society through education, collaboration, and infrastructure, stewarding the Open Source Definition (OSD), and preventing abuse of the ideals and ethos inherent to the open source movement. See our about and history pages for more.

Open source software is software that can be freely used, changed, and shared (in modified or unmodified form) by anyone. Open source software is made by many people, and distributed under licenses that comply with the Open Source Definition.

News

Thank you, ...we’re not there yet.

Submitted by administrator on Mon, 2016-12-26 13:23

“Not there yet...” that phrase actually highlights where we are with several important initiatives here at the OSI and even with open source software broadly.

First, and most pressing for us today, we’re not there yet in our fund raising goals for 2016, and we’re asking those working with open source software—those who not only understand the technical merits, but value open principles—to contribute and help fund our ongoing work.

'Tis The Season...

Submitted by administrator on Thu, 2016-12-15 09:14

This year you're probably inundated with requests for financial support from a variety of very worthy causes, including many from open source software projects, and other organizations working to promote software freedom. Indeed we here at the OSI are running our own end-of-the-year fund raiser, and we hope you will contribute.

Kicking off the 2016 End-of-Year Fundraiser

Submitted by Molly de Blanc on Wed, 2016-11-23 04:08

Thanks to a single staff member, ten volunteer board members, and dozens of interns, volunteers, and members, the Open Source Initiative (OSI) protects and promotes open source software, development and communities, championing software freedom in society through education, collaboration, and infrastructure, stewarding the Open Source Definition, and preventing abuse of the ideals and ethos inherent to the open source movement.

Odoo Community Association Joins Open Source Initiative

Submitted by administrator on Tue, 2016-10-18 12:23

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Oct. 19, 2016 -- The Open Source Initiative® (OSI), a global non-profit formed to educate about and advocate for the benefits of open source software and communities, announced today the affiliate membership of the Odoo Community Association (OCA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the widespread use of Odoo and to support the collaborative development of Odoo features.

Hello fans and followers of open source voting in San Francisco!

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 2016-10-14 12:34

The Open Source Initiative works with a variety of organizations to promote the adoption of open source software throughout government. San Francisco Elections Commissioner Chris Jerdonek provides the OSI with a breakdown of the latest happening with San Francisco's efforts to develop and certify the country's first open source voting system!

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