Apache Software Foundation - technical definition

A nonprofit corporation that evolved from the Apache group who convened in 1995 to develop the now-popular Apache HTTP server (which runs on such operating system software as Linux, Solaris, and Windows). Some experts maintain that Apache is the most widely used Web server software.

Currently, the Apache Software Foundation gives support to Apache open-source software projects—characterized by a process that is collaborative, involves a consensus, and strives to ­produce leading-edge, high-quality software. A stated purpose of foundation members is to produce open and practical software licenses. The Foundation was formed for a number of reasons, including to provide a communication forum and a business infrastructure to support open, collaborative software development projects.

The Foundation’s functions also included the creation of an independent legal group to which individuals and firms could donate resources and be assured that the resources would be used strictly for the public benefit. The independent legal group was also to provide a means for volunteers to be protected from lawsuits aimed at the Foundation’s projects and to protect the “Apache” brand (as applied to software products) from being abused by organizations.

Membership in the Apache Software Foundation is based on merit and requires that one be an active project contributor. New candidates are nominated by an existing member, and a vote of all members is then taken. The candidate must win a majority vote to be given full membership privileges. The current list of ASF members is detailed at http://www.apache.org/ foundation/members.html.

See Also: HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol); Linux; Operating System Software; Server; Solaris.