Apple's move, the first by a major computer company, is limited to its software that runs central computers. Apple, for now, will continue to keep secret its operating system for the Macintosh personal computer.
"We're putting our source code and the intellectual property out there for everyone to see," said Steve Jobs, Apple's interim CEO.
Source codes are the typed instructions directing computers to execute programs.
Jobs unveiled the source codes for a $499 operating system, called the MacOS X Server, for use by schools, small and medium businesses and departments within larger companies.
The system will work on most new Apple computers, but is being packaged with the new Macintosh Server G3, a $4,999 computer for people who want to link many computers together.
Apple's move gives a big push to a movement to use the Internet for enlisting volunteer programmers and speeding software development.
Jobs said Apple will watch how the server source codes are used, but that he would like to open codes from more systems in the future.
Eric Raymond, president of a group of programmers called The Open Source Initiative, said Apple's decision will "shake up the computer industry."
"We in the Internet hacker culture want to have access to these source codes and Apple really gets it," he said. "Now we'd like to see more of their codes."
03-17-99
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