What does it mean for a software to be open source, and how will it shape the future of Google Wave?
According to OpenSouce.org, open source is ” a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.” This basically means that anyone can contribute to and critique open source software.
With Google Wave being open source, possibilities are endless. The way in which the creators of Google Wave, Lars Rasmussen, Jens Rasmussen, and Stephanie Hannon, developed Google Wave allows for developers all around the world to contribute to the software.
Some of the advantages of Google Wave being open source are:
-Just like email, developers can recreate various services for the waves.
There are many different services for webmail, such as Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, and Gmail. In the same way, because Google Wave will be open source, developers world wide will be able to create their own webmail service as they wish. This will allow users to choose from their favorite, more suitable wave service for their own personal use.
-Anyone can contribute to the wave protocol.
This is a given, but as people start using Google Wave for various reasons, there will be a need for changes and adjustments to Google Wave. Because Google Wave will be open source, Google will not be the only one responsible for these improvements. Being open source, Google Wave will continue to improve appropriately to the demands of users.
-Endless opportunities with extensions.
More info on this will be posted in the future. For now, just know that extensions make Google Wave better, and the fact that developers all over the world will be able to create their own extensions add to the sensational quality of Google Wave.
