Let’s face it, not everyone is a tech junkie at this stage in their life (I know that I am not) but the further one gets in their college career, the closer we get to the corporate realm, and it is important to note one of the most interesting tech issue revolutionizing our world, open source programming.

So what is this open source thing anyway? Well in layman terms open source is a way for multiple programmers to edit code for software in an effort to create effective and efficient programs which are (best of all) free. Still confused? Take Microsoft Office for example, which includes Word, Power Point and Excel. Only Microsoft has the rights to this software’s codes, and only they can change it. However, the open source equivalent OpenOffice can be tweaked and upgraded by a wide range of programming experts, and offers the same service.

For you and I this means that purchasing Microsoft Office from the UT Martin bookstore is no longer an expense we must include along with books, tuition, fees, and other college needs.

Imagine for a moment a world in which the software you now buy can be obtained simply and easily off the internet for no cost at all. Best of all is that open source is relatively secure.

Many times most of the codes for a great deal of open source programs are closely guarded by knowledgeable professionals. The ramifications of this mean that some unknown person could not just swoop in and delete valuable bits of code and destroy an entire program in one fell click of a mouse. The cracks are minute, but code can slip though from time to time. So, for now, open source is not completely fallible.

Even better, many open source programs are invaluable to the needs of college students. For example, many students now use LimeWire, an open source program for their peer-to-peer downloading needs. Also, Wikipedia, used by many as a research assistant, is another open source program. Therefore, many of the needs college students now have are currently met by open source programs.

Whether or not you use open source is up to you. However, it is certainly a force to be reckoned with. In the near future tech junkies and computer illiterates alike will be presented with more and more programs to meet their needs and ease their programming woes.

So come one, come all to the new world presented at the end of our fingertips. Check out these programs online and see what open source can do for you.