Shared Source
Shared Source is a software licensing and development model where source code is made available to specific groups, such as partners, customers, or academic institutions, under restricted terms, rather than being fully open to the public. It allows organizations to share code for collaboration, transparency, or educational purposes while maintaining control over intellectual property and usage. This approach sits between proprietary closed-source software and open-source models like those under permissive or copyleft licenses.
Developers should learn about Shared Source when working in environments that require controlled code sharing, such as enterprise partnerships, government projects, or academic research where full open-source licensing is not feasible. It is particularly useful for companies that want to foster collaboration with trusted third parties, enable customers to audit or customize software, or comply with regulatory transparency requirements without relinquishing commercial control. Understanding Shared Source helps in navigating licensing agreements and implementing secure, collaborative development workflows.