Fork (Software)

Understanding Fork (Software)

Fork (Software) is the process of creating a new project by developers who have used source code from another software package. This involves splitting the software into a different version, opening up new possibilities. In the world of open-source software, forking is a common practice and is generally seen as a positive development.

Forks often happen when a group of developers diverge from the original direction of a project in order to improve it and potentially replace it entirely.

The process begins with developers obtaining a legal copy of the source code from a software package and starting their own development on it, resulting in a new version of the software. This is possible because of free and open-source software, which does not violate any copyright laws. As a result, this type of software can be forked legally without needing permission from project managers or distributors. The goal of forking is to release the improvements made so that the entire community can benefit from them.

While forks are often seen as a symbol of freedom and lead to valuable updates, they can also arise due to conflicts within developer communities, resulting in different perspectives. Usually, the larger group of developers will keep the original name and user community. Software forks can divide developer communities, with the split being either amicable or filled with animosity.

Competing projects can also lead to a lack of code sharing among developers, causing future challenges related to legitimacy, ownership, and direction.

Unlike free and open-source software, proprietary software is licensed by copyright owners who have exclusive legal rights. In the case of proprietary software, a fork can only happen if the copyright owner grants permission and considers it necessary to create a new version of the software.