Building from a common pool...

Another of the things that are beneficial about FOSS(Free and open-source software), is that it gives developers and programmers a common pool of code to work on. Thus, their work is make easier and faster since they get to use the foundations set by other before them.

Not only that, it allows to innovations and improvements to come to the existing pool of code a lot faster. It also means that those innovations and improvements to spread a lot faster, since they are set on the common pool used by the people who actively use it to make their software. Meaning that all the software made from that pool shares from those improvements as they come.

From the user point of view, using FOSS means that they get software that is compatible with other software that draws from the same pool. In essence, it means that the user is software built from a standard that gives the freedom to know that the data used isn't dependent on a the software being used, but on the code that came from the common pool. The jump to another software can be done a lot easier, since there is the option of using another software that it's built from the same pool of code or the users can build their own software using the pool if there is no option already available.

In many ways FOSS gives programmers, developers and users a way to build standards that are freely available to all who need to use that pool of code. It democratizes software, by allowing anyone interested in using the code to use it or to give to in the best way they can.

By using a common pool of code to build software, there is more incentive to keep an eye on it by the community that makes use of it. To have robust and secure code at the pool, becomes vital to all since any vulnerability or bad code puts everyone at risk. It also means, anyone can contribute code that improves on it or secure vulnerabilities while all can check it for any flaws to make sure it adds value.

Drawing from, and giving to, a common pool means that all that do so are at least partially responsible to keep that pool healthy and safe to use.The effort to do that is shared by a lot more people, all of who have some stake on making sure that the pool is as good as it can get.