Why called "Open Source" ?

**hansp** · 2006-02-16, 11:14 AM

Hi. I got a question from a customer I was unable to answer to satisfaction. Why is the free edition of SugarCRM called "Open Source", while for example the sourcecode for the function getLoginUserStatus() is not readable to all (or easy to find) ?

Regards, Hans

**alsutton** · 2006-02-16, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by hansp

Hi. I got a question from a customer I was unable to answer to satisfaction. Why is the free edition of SugarCRM called "Open Source", while for example the sourcecode for the function getLoginUserStatus() is not readable to all (or easy to find) ?

Regards, Hans

It's because you can find it (even if it's not easy), and although you may not be able to read it PHP developers can.

If you look for the source code for some of the features in the pay-for versions you won't be able to find them.

In short; Open means you can look in and see it.

**ricardo.reis** · 2006-02-16, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by alsutton

It's because you can find it (even if it's not easy), and although you may not be able to read it PHP developers can.

If you look for the source code for some of the features in the pay-for versions you won't be able to find them.

In short; Open means you can look in and see it.

If it is just that it ain't "open"

Liberty to look, see and change. Liberty to distribute. Right to get changes back to the communty. That is "Open source". Or should be... (I think)