Not all online platforms are open-source, but many of the most popular platforms are. In fact, most of the most important software on the Internet is open-source.
So it makes sense to know a bit about open-source, and how it can help you build your projects online.
Open-source software is software code with a license that allows free use.
Apache, the software that runs web servers, is open-source. WordPress, the software that powers most blogs and websites, is open-source. Linux, an entire operating system that you can install on your computer, is open-source.
Open-source code is governed by open-source licenses. There are many open-source licenses. One of the most commonly used open-source licenses is the GPL license.
How does GPL work? Can GPL software be sold and given away?
GPL is the license for WordPress, and for every WordPress plugin and theme — they are all free, even the pro versions [from the WordPress collection – opens in a new tab].