Open source software and Creative Commons licenses provide a springboard for creativity and a way for web users to avoid breaking the law. Open source software has been instrumental in creating what could be termed the public works projects of the web, such as Wikimedia and WordPress. Eric S. Raymond’s 1997, “The Cathedral and the Bazaar,” described the bazaar model, which includes open source software, as treating users as co-developers, having early releases and frequent integration, providing several versions, such as developer (“buggy”) and stable, and possessing a dynamic decision making structure. Creative Commons licenses enable much the same transparency and openness, allowing, depending on the license, users to reuse and even improve on the original work. For these reasons, the open source attitude is important for the growth of collaboration and creativity.

Open source software is used to create collaboration and, conversely, centralize control. It allows burgeoning developers the ability to train by experimenting with the software and learning how it works and how to improve it. Creative Commons is used to make material more accessible to more people, and allowing it to be shared among users, whether images or content or other formats.

In this course, I used WordPress, one of the standouts of open source software, in creating my portfolio. Every time I need to enter a password when getting an account in the class, like Vyond, I use KeePass for storing my passwords. I used the Creative Commons for retrieving some images from Wikipedia to insert in animation projects.

I heartily endorse the open source ability and the open source attitude. Openness and accountability are virtues I try to live by, and appeal to me. Collaboration is an important feature, with the community able to make improvements and share knowledge and ability. I’ve used and will continue to use open source software when I have the opportunity.