The rapid acceptance and media glare surrounding Linux has enlivened the Open Source community. This is understandable, but the open source concept of free is closer to liberty than to no charge. Users are free to inspect the actual source code of the program to determine how it works.
Users are free to modify and adapt the software to their specific needs.
Users are free to redistribute copies to whomever. Users are free to release their code improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Companies like Red Hat and Caldera have become overnight sensations by packaging and providing support for Linux. But operating systems are not the only programs available as open source. There are several open source database management systems that are beginning to make some waves.