Open Source software must follow these criteria (you can learn more at: http://www.opensource.org)


  • Free redistribution

  • Source code. the program must include source code and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form.

  • derived works the license mus allow modification and derived works

  • integrity of the authors source code

  • No discrimination against persons or groups

  • No discrimantion against fields of endevour

  • distributino of lincense

  • license must bot be specefic to a product

  • licnese mus not contaminate other sofwares



PHP is a fine example of Open Source development and distribution. other examples include these

  • apache. the web server of choice for most websites on the web

  • linux. the operating system of choice for more people than microsoft woud like you to think

  • bind the software providing domain name services to the internet, yes ALL the internet

  • sendmail the most widely used software for transporting e-mail form sender to recipient