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Code & Deliveryadjective|noun · /ˈoʊpən ˈsɔːrs/

open source

In simple English

Open source is a fundamental concept in modern software development. It means the underlying code of a program is made publicly available on platforms like GitHub, allowing developers worldwide to inspect it, fix bugs, add features, and create their own versions. This contrasts with proprietary or closed-source software, where the code is kept private by the company that owns it. In tech companies, you will hear open source discussed in several contexts: when evaluating third-party libraries to integrate into your product, when deciding whether to release internal tools publicly, or when discussing licensing requirements. Many companies use open source software extensively while also contributing back to the community by maintaining their own open source projects. Common open source projects include Linux, Python, React, and Apache. Organizations often have dedicated teams or policies around open source governance to manage licensing compliance, security vulnerabilities, and community contributions.

Understand what open source software is, how it works, and how it differs from proprietary code.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓We should open source this utility for the community.
✓This project is built on open source foundations.
✓We are committed to open source development.

Real examples

in a standup

"We are planning to open source our monitoring dashboard next quarter."

in a code review

"This function matches the open source implementation in the Redis library."

in a team meeting

"Our open source contributions have increased community engagement significantly."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse open source (freely available code) with open access (freely available research). Open source is about code availability and modification rights, not just visibility.

✕We need to open source the bug immediately.
✓We need to fix the bug immediately.— Open source is not a verb meaning to fix or release quickly. Use it only to describe making code publicly available.
✕This is an open source document.
✓This is an open document or publicly available document.— Open source specifically refers to code, not general documents. For documents, use open or publicly available.
✕Our product is open source because it is transparent.
✓Our product is transparent because we use open source principles.— Open source is about code availability and licensing, not just transparency. Transparency is a benefit, not the definition.

Other forms

adjective

open source

"We selected an open source database for the project."

noun

open source

"Open source has transformed how software is developed."

Often used with

open source softwareThe most common phrase; software that is open source
open source communityThe group of developers who contribute to and maintain open source projects
open source licenseLegal terms governing how open source code can be used and modified (MIT, Apache, GPL)
open source projectA specific software initiative with publicly available code
open source contributionA change or improvement submitted to an open source project

Similar words

publicly available codeMore descriptive but less common in tech industry
free and open source software (FOSS)More formal and emphasizes both freedom and cost

Opposites

proprietaryclosed sourceclosed-source software

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. You want to explain that your team will release code publicly. Which sounds most natural?

Complete the sentence

2. Many companies benefit from using _______ _______ tools to reduce development costs.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses open source incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using open source: The code for this tool is available to anyone and anyone can change it and share their changes.

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "open source" in a standup this week?

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