open-source library

noun

UK /ˌəʊpən sɔːs ˈlaɪbrəri/

US /ˌoʊpən sɔːrs ˈlaɪbreri/

A set of free computer code that anyone can use and change.

The programmer used an open-source library to add maps to her app.

SYNONYMS

free software library public code library community code library open code collection

RELATED WORDS

source code repository programming software license

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A collection of shared code that a community keeps improving together.

The open-source library gets new features from volunteers every month.

3. A toolbox of ready-made code that developers can plug into their projects.

Instead of writing everything from scratch, he picked an open-source library for charts.

4. Software code that is free to view, copy, and modify under an open license.

Her teacher explained that an open-source library must follow its license rules.