Open-source advocacy is the practice of attempting to increase the awareness and improve the perception of open-source software. It can also refer to advocacy of open source hardware, open source design and other uses of an open source approach such as open source appropriate technology. In some cases, this may be in opposition to proprietary software or intellectual property concepts (e.g. patents and copyrights as a whole).
Leading open-source advocates include Brian Behlendorf, Tim O'Reilly, Eric Raymond, Linus Torvalds, Mitch Kapor and Paul Vixie. Others that advocate the related free software movement include Richard Stallman, Alan Cox, Jimmy Wales and Eben Moglen. Bruce Perens is a prominent figure who works to promote both terms.
There are even broadcast and podcast radio shows whose sole subject is open source advocacy. Gutsy geeks and Open Source (radio show) are but two examples.
Famous quotes containing the words open and/or source:
“If we keep an open mind, too much is likely to fall into it.”
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972)
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—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)