What this course is about

Open Source Software Foundations introduces you to the world of open-source software (OSS) — software whose source code is freely available for anyone to use, inspect, modify, and contribute to.

You’ll learn why open-source matters, how it powers much of today’s technology, and how global communities work together to build reliable, secure, and innovative software. The course also highlights how open-source skills connect to real career paths, including Linux system administration and cloud technologies.

As you complete the course, you’ll earn certificates and digital credentials that you can add to your resume, LinkedIn profile, and Credly account to showcase your open-source knowledge.

You’ll learn how to

• Understand the fundamentals of open-source software
• Navigate open-source ecosystems and tools
• Explore how open-source powers major technologies (Linux, cloud, DevOps)
• Recognize how collaboration and community drive open-source success

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to

• Understand open-source fundamentals
• Define what open source is
• Differentiate open-source software from proprietary/closed-source software

Understand the importance of open-source licensing, transparency, and collaborative development

• Explore key open-source ecosystems and technologies
• Gain familiarity with open-source software stacks
• Understand how community-driven development works

Recognize how open-source technologies power cloud platforms, Linux systems, DevOps tools, and more

• Build foundational system and software skills

Understand how open-source skills support roles like Linux administrator, cloud engineer, and DevOps technician

Connect this learning path to related training such as the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) curriculum

• Understand collaboration and community practices
• Learn how open-source projects are maintained and improved by contributors worldwide

Understand how to navigate open-source communities, issue trackers, repositories, and contribution workflows (varies by module)

• Recognize the importance of transparency, peer review, and community governance

Showcase your learning

• Earn certificates and digital credentials

Add them to your resume, LinkedIn, and Credly profile to highlight your open-source expertise