Open Source Software most people would agree, has as its underpinning certain legal and pragmatic arrangements that ensure that the source code for an Open Source Software development will be generally available. (Mockus, Fielding & Herbsleb).

The source code is distributed with the software, there are no restrictions on modification, and there are no restrictions on redistribution. This availability of the source code for modification, which allows anyone who wishes to modify the code and hopefully make improvements, is key to the organization and values of the open source community. Anyone with an interest can contribute improvements or new features to the code base. Because most developers are working without pay, the license represents a social contract that their efforts will remain a public good and available to them, and not become the proprietary property of some company. The most common licenses are the GPL and the LGPL although there are others (Udell).