Top 10 Open Source Technologies and Why You Must Master Them

What Are Open Source Technologies?  

Open source is a kind of licensing agreement that allows users to freely inspect, copy, modify and redistribute a software, and have full access to the underlying source code. Simply put, open source refers to software created by a developer who pledges to make the entire software source code available to users. On the other hand, proprietary or “closed source” software has source code that only the creator can legally copy, inspect, and modify. Top Open source technologies celebrate the principle of open exchange, shared participation, transparency, and community-oriented development. 

However, open-source software is not necessarily free. The source code is freely available to anyone, but the executable software is sometimes available upon subscription. The best open source technologies allow users to download, modify and distribute it without paying any license fees to its original creator.  

Different kinds of software programs like operating systems, applications, databases, games, and even programming languages can be open source. Open source technology can be used by programmers as well as non-programmers because it enables anyone with skills to become innovators and contribute code. When source code is open, it offers advantages to businesses and individual programmers. Businesses can customize open-source software to meet their specific needs or make innovations that are not included in the original source code. People worldwide are using open-source software like Linux or browsers like Firefox to develop websites and applications. 

Top Open Source Technologies for 2024

Today’s open-source technologies produce cutting-edge software for free, lowering IT costs for businesses. Here’s a list of some of the most innovative and top open source technologies to master for software development, cloud computing, devops, machine learning, and many more applications. 

Here are some of the top open source technologies that you can master:

• Mozilla Firefox
• LibreOffice
• GIMP
• VLC Media Player
• Shotcut
• Brave
• Linux
• Python
• PHP
• GNU Compiler Collection

Let's now discuss these top open source software examples in detail:

1. Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a free and open-source internet browser that offers numerous plugins which can be accessed with a single mouse click. Available for Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows, Mozilla is free to use, modify and redistribute. Mozilla was born about 20 years ago out of the open-source software movement, and over the years, it reshaped the technology industry and the way social networks and operating systems operate. Today, open-source is mainstream, and it powers tech giants like Google, Facebook, and even Microsoft.   

2. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free and open-source alternative to Microsoft Office. It is a complete office suite like MS Office, with which you can offer presentations, documents, spreadsheets, and databases. LibreOffice is used by millions of people all over the world. The clean interface and feature-rich tools of this open-source software allow users to use their creativity and enhance productivity. Unlike Microsoft Office, which is available at a price, LibreOffice is accessible totally free. This makes it the most versatile open-source office suite available in the market. The software is available in Mac, Linux, and Windows and is compatible with all kinds of document formats, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

3. GIMP

The photo editing tool GIMP is one of the most popular and best maintained open-source software available. It offers image editing, filters, effects, and flexibility features like some of the expensive image editing tools, yet it is completely free. With GIMP, you can use layers, filters, automatic photo enhancement features, and create new graphic design elements easily. Available across different operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, GIMP has a fully customizable interface and allows users to download plug-ins created by the GIMP community. It is a favored photo editor of photographers, graphic designers, and illustrators. 

4. VLC Media Player

The VLC multimedia player is a free open source software used for video, audio, and media files. Most users use VLC to play discs, webcams, streams, and devices. VLC media player allows optimizing multimedia files for specific hardware configuration and offers numerous extensions for users to create customized designs. On top of it, the software runs on different platforms like Android, Mac OS X, Linux, Windows, iOS. 

5. Shotcut

This free, open-source video editing software offers advanced editing features like premium editors. Preferred for its ability to edit every format of audio, video, or photo media, Shotcut also offers HDMI preview and capture, a plethora of codecs, and non-destructive audio and video editing. This allows users to compile effects without any loss in video quality. 

6. Brave

The open-source Brave web browser is designed to keep browsing activity private by automatically disabling website trackers and blocking ads. Brave offers a faster and more secure browsing experience than with Google Chrome, plus users can access most Google Chrome extensions. 

7. Linux

Linux is the most in-demand open-source operating system available in the market. Most commonly used on desktops and Android devices, Linux comes absolutely free and is extremely customizable. The reasons for the immense popularity of Linux are its user-friendliness, strong security features, and excellent community support. 

8. Python

One of the most popular programming and scripting languages used by software developers, Python, is an open-source software that is free to use and distribute. It is powerful and fast, easy to learn and use, and runs everywhere, which is why developers choose Python as one of the top open-source technologies available. 

9. PHP

PHP is an open-source scripting language used for creating dynamic and interactive web pages and various digital platforms. PHP can be embedded into HTML. What sets PHP from other languages is that it is extremely simple for a beginner to learn but offers many advanced features for professional developers. Some of the most powerful websites like Slack and Spotify have been powered by PHP. 

10. GNU Compiler Collection

The GNU Compiler Collection is a set of compilation and development tools used for software development in C, C++, Ada, Fortran, and other programming languages. This free software provides regular, high-quality releases which work well with native and cross targets. The sources of the GNU Compiler collection are available for free via Git and weekly snapshots. The collection is available on Linux, Windows, and other operating systems.

Choose The Right Software Development Program For You

This table compares various courses offered by Simplilearn, based on several key features and details. The table provides an overview of the courses' duration, skills you will learn, additional benefits, among other important factors, to help learners make an informed decision about which course best suits their needs.

Program Name	Full Stack Java Developer Career Bootcamp	Automation Testing Masters Program	Post Graduate Program in Full Stack Web Development
Geo	IN	All	Non-US
University	Simplilearn	Simplilearn	Caltech
Course Duration	11 Months	11 Months	9 Months
Coding Experience Required	Basic Knowledge	Basic Knowledge	Basic Knowledge
Skills You Will Learn	15+ Skills Including Core Java, SQL, AWS, ReactJS, etc.	Java, AWS, API Testing, TDD, etc.	Java, DevOps, AWS, HTML5, CSS3, etc.
Additional Benefits	Interview Preparation Exclusive Job Portal 200+ Hiring Partners	Structured Guidance Learn From Experts Hands-on Training	Caltech CTME Circle Membership Learn 30+ Tools and Skills 25 CEUs from Caltech CTME
Cost	$$	$$	$$$
	Explore Program	Explore Program	Explore Program

How to Build a Career in Open Source Technologies?

The Open Source Services market includes services in consultation, implementation, support, management, maintenance, and training. With open source making huge inroads in networking, database, and security, numerous job opportunities have opened up in the domain. 

If you are a developer looking to master new skills through collaborative work, you can pursue a career in Open source. Being part of an open-source community will expand your network with fellow programmers and add more credentials to your resume. 

Kick-start a career in open source technologies with certification courses on free and open-source software. Learn how to use PHP XML on the Linux platform to develop, test and deploy open source applications. 

Upgrade your web development skills by choosing our Post Graduate Program in Full Stack Web Development. This course can help you hone the right skills and make you job-ready in no time.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Our team will get back to you at the earliest.

FAQs

1. What are the top 10 open-source technologies?

The top 10 open-source technologies include Linux, Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, Python, Git, Docker, Kubernetes, TensorFlow, Ansible, and PostgreSQL.

2. Why should I master open-source technologies?

Mastering open-source technologies can expand your skillset, increase job prospects, and foster innovation and collaboration in your work.

3. Is Linux an important open-source technology to learn?

Yes, Linux is a crucial open-source technology due to its wide usage in servers, embedded systems, and most supercomputers.

4. How can mastering Python be beneficial?

Python is a versatile open-source language with application in web development, data analysis, machine learning, and more, making it highly beneficial to master.

5. What is Git and why is it important?

Git is an open-source version control system that aids in tracking changes in computer files and coordinating work on those files among multiple people.

6. Why is Docker a must-learn open-source technology?

Docker simplifies the process of application deployment through containerization, making it a vital technology in today's DevOps-centric world.

7. How does Kubernetes enhance cloud computing?

Kubernetes is an open-source platform for automating deployment, scaling, and managing containerized applications, making it a key player in cloud computing.

8. What role does TensorFlow play in AI and Machine Learning?

TensorFlow is a free software library for machine learning and artificial intelligence that provides a flexible platform for building and deploying ML models.

9. Why is Ansible a top open-source technology?

Ansible is an open-source automation tool that drastically changes the landscape of IT orchestration, making complex deployment and management tasks easier.

10. How does mastering PostgreSQL benefit a database professional?

PostgreSQL is a powerful open-source object-relational database system known for its robustness, scalability, and standards compliance, making it invaluable for database professionals.