What is Fork (software development)?
In [[software engineering]], a '''project fork''' happens when a copy of [[source code]] from one [[Computer software|software package]] is made into a different piece of [[software]]. Forking is not only creating a new branch from the old software, but also a split in support between the old and new software. [[Free and open-source software]] is code that may be forked from the original [[Software development|development]] team without prior [[permission]].<ref>''Open Source Systems: Grounding Research: 7th IFIP 2.13 International Conference, OSS 2011, Salvador, Brazil, October 6-7, 2011, Proceedings'', eds. Scott Hissam; et al. (Heidelberg [Germany]; New York: Springer, 2011), p. 260</ref> This does not violate [[copyright]] [[law]]. However, [[license]]d forks of [[proprietary software]] (''e.g.'' [[Unix]]) also happen. == References == {{reflist}} {{tech-stub}} [[Category:Software]] [[Category:Software licences]]