Today HP announced that it will contribute the webOS software to the open source community.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of open source software – or who are current webOS users – we’ve provided answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
For more information, read today's press release.
What does it mean to make webOS “open source”?
Broadly speaking, “open source” refers to a form of software licensing wherein the source code is available for use and improvement by anyone choosing to download it.
Developers typically share their enhancements with the rest of the community resulting in a product refined through community collaboration.
An example of popular open source software is the Firefox web browser.
What does this mean for current owners of webOS devices, like the Touchpad?
Users of webOS devices will continue to receive software improvements and updates in the future.
HP expects that making webOS open source will accelerate the development of the webOS platform and application ecosystem, which will benefit current and future users.
HP plans to remain active in the development and support of webOS.
Will HP begin making webOS devices again?
As webOS gains traction as an open source alternative in the marketplace, you could see webOS on several different types of devices by any number of vendors.
We will explore the viability of putting webOS on devices, just as we do for other leading operating systems.
