When the source code of one open source software is copied entirely to modify and make a new one, it is called a fork. Usually forks are produced as a result of efforts to produce a new product with different point of view (goal) than the original product.
Forks are most common in Linux distributions. The most common example of fork is the Ubuntu project. It is a famous freely shipped Linux distro. But many of the non-techies dont know that it was forked from the first major Linux distribution in the world, Debian. Many of us even don't know that such a distribution exists. While in this case forking is friendly, many cases it can result in a war between forked and the original product.
Forking is one of the major drawbacks of the open source license. One can simply copy and change its name to make an entirely new product and can distribute. Such a situation is harmful for the software community since it duplicates the efforts put to develop the software and creates confusion among users to choose the product.
Fear of forking essay
Forks are most common in Linux distributions. The most common example of fork is the Ubuntu project. It is a famous freely shipped Linux distro. But many of the non-techies dont know that it was forked from the first major Linux distribution in the world, Debian. Many of us even don't know that such a distribution exists. While in this case forking is friendly, many cases it can result in a war between forked and the original product.
Forking is one of the major drawbacks of the open source license. One can simply copy and change its name to make an entirely new product and can distribute. Such a situation is harmful for the software community since it duplicates the efforts put to develop the software and creates confusion among users to choose the product.
Fear of forking essay
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