UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hii everybody here

first of all i'm soo soo happy to join Unix people ...

I was using computer from age 7 till now i'm 20


but in the past 2 years i used linux ( Ubuntu )

and i have a small Q !

while the linux is open source so how could I make changes to the application !
for example any application for mail ! how could i improve it by myself as its open source so i can change in it ! am I right and thanks aloot

1. Download the sourcecode
2. Fire up your favourite editor/IDE/whatever
3. edit-compile-link-test (repeat that over and over again)
4. enjoy

Keep in mind, though, that once you change some open-source software the changed version is open source too - you cannot take others work and make it yours. Read the GPL (and probably the LGPL too) to understand what this means in detail and maybe consult a lawyer who can explain what it all means for you and your work. Perhaps a lawyer can much better (and much more in-depth) explain that to you than any of use could.

At last a suggestion as a moderator: please try to explain what you want to know in a language which is as correct as possible. Nobody here minds the one or other slip (most of us, including me, are not native-speakers and are lacking in this regard), but your posting was near the point of being unintelligible.

Thanks for your consideration.

bakunin

thnx for your reply ...

I just wanted to know if i can make new things with linux coz in windows I cant make any changes with the applications !

I hope you understand me and sorry for my english ! if its so bad but i'm trying my best !

and about the open source, sure I wont take any others work I just wanted to help in linux and make the applications easy to use !

anyway thanks alot for your help

Being an open source does not mean that you can do anything with the source code.First you get the source code and do any modification you want to do,you can still send it to the inventor for screening if you want to give ur input or you can incorporate it as ur own software but you will still keep it open.even if you baptised it to ur name , you must still allow other access to the source code to enable them make modification if the wish.
thanks and i hope i answer ur question.

very useful reply my friend dba

Thanks alot