WHY OPEN?
The most basic difference between Open Source and proprietary programs is that in Open Source, you can actually look at the code behind the program and change it, should you so desire. This may not seem at first glance like something relevant to designers. In practice, though, what it means is that countless other people are looking at how the code works, making changes, trouble shooting and posting their findings online. Open Source means that knowledge about software is community based instead of served by a heirarchical tech support lines.