Open source software (OSS), the development model of wildly popular projects like Linux, Apache and Perl, is compared with closed source software (CSS), the development model of proprietary software projects. The two models of development are compared by viewing the processes from the perspective of a text file. OSS versus CSS Open source software (OSS), the development model of wildly popular projects like Linux, Apache, Perl, BSD, etc. is characterized by the ability to get, modify and redistribute the source code for programs and documentation.

The field of software has the worst record of shipping standards compliant products. No company today is shipping a browser 100% compliant with the W3 recommendations for HTML 4 and CSS2. Neither Microsoft nor Borland ship compilers 100% compliant to the ANSI/ISO C++ standard. The ANSI/ISO C++ standard was ratified September 28, 1998, the W3 recommendation for HTML 4 was released December 18, 1997 and the W3 recommendation for CSS2 was released in May of 1998.