Open source applies to more than just software

written 2026-07-15

Open source usually means a program's source code being available for reading and modification. And this benefits everyone. But there are analogs for other things that are ignored.

Digital music is usually made by composing it in a music editing program, saved in a program-specific file format, and then exporting to an audio file to distribute. This exporting process is an analog for compilation, and the project file is the source code. Music could be open source: we could distribute the project files along with the exported audio, so people could understand the song better or modify it. But no one does that.

If I ever make music again, I will.

Digital drawings are also made in a program-specific file format and then exported to an image to distribute. But this is less important because digital images are easier to change in compiled form than audio or software.

What else?