RE: open-source vs. open source

Subject: RE: open-source vs. open source
From: "Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>
To: "'Jill Mohan'" <jillemo -at- gmail -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:03:30 -0700

I've used quite a bit of "open source" software and I've never seen the
compound modifier construct of "open-source." By comparison, I've walked
through many "open doors" but I have never seen any "open-doors."

In this case, it is probably easier to think about the "source" side of
things, rather than that source being "open-source." "Open-source" implies
that the source code of "open source" applications is somehow different than
other source code, which it is not. It is just available to the "open"
community through GPL or some other "open" license.

If the door is "open," then it is an "open door" and that door does not
somehow become different and become an "open-door," except in an "open-door"
policy. In this case "open-door" is a modifier to policy. By comparison,
"open-source" would be a modifier to code, which it is not. "Open" refers
to the source and not to the code. So it is "open source code," but the
code can be the same type of code used in closed source applications.
"Closed source" means that the public does not have access to the source,
like in open source applications.

FYI, (oh right, there's another closing whatever...)

Lauren


> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Jill Mohan
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 1:06 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: open-source vs. open source
>
> It's Friday and my mind is incapable of reasoning this out alone.
> If the rule for compound modifiers is this: namely that if
> the compound
> modifier comes before the noun it modifies, then it better be
> wearing its
> hyphen. If it comes after the noun, then it doesn't need its hyphen?
>
> Orca is an open-source software package.
>
> This software is open source.
>
> Thanks much!
> Jill
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References:
open-source vs. open source: From: Jill Mohan

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