- Open-Source software is software whose creators don't keep their code proprietary. That means that developers don't have to pay a fee to develop related products, and can use the code as a starting point to develop another version of the product. Open-Source software is often available free of charge to users as well. Because of both of these facts, users of specific Open-Source applications are often very passionate about the product and willing to help others learn to use it as a way of participating in the community of users, which often means quality resources are available for the software. Another benefit of these programs is that they tend to be available for the Mac OS and for various versions of Linux and not just for Windows, since the goal is to make them available for users rather than to make a profit.
- Open-Source software is an example of an exception to the rule that you get what you pay for. Despite being available for free, Open-Source software is often of high quality with many good features. For example, the Bluefish HTML editor has wizards to help you get started, KompoZer has a built-in FTP module, and Seamonkey is actually an entire suite of programs, including a web browser, email and IRC clients as well as an HTML authoring tool (similar to the Netscape software from an earlier era). Most Open-Source HTML and XML editors also include CSS tools and WYSIWIG functionality, among other features.
- Examples of Open-Source HTML editors include Bluefish, Amaya, KompoZer, Nvu, Seamonkey and Notepad++. Most of these programs are available for Windows, the Mac OS and Linux, except Notepad++ which works in Windows only. These programs can be downloaded from various locations on the Internet, from their own websites as well as user community sites and sites such as SourceForge, a site that encourages the development and distribution of Open-Source software.
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