Tech visionary and entrepreneur Leo Radvinsky has long been an advocate for open source software development. While many large technology firms tend to wall off their intellectual property and keep frameworks and algorithms proprietary, Radvinksy has done the opposite and invested in the open source community.
Unlike proprietary software, open source programs are not just free for users. Developers of all skill levels can make changes, expansions, mods, and hone an engine or framework’s best practices. Among the most notable of Leo Radvinsky’s investments in open source development would be B4X, the development tool kit based on the Android-native B4A authoring language. B4X is comprised of other components, such as B4i and B4J, that enable developers to easily create apps for iOS and desktop and IoT respectively.
Open source programs subsequently can develop stronger communities and user bases since the barriers to entry have vanished. In the case of B4X’s success, the platform grew significantly from a tool to port apps to different platforms to a high-end suite of development tools that simplifies cross-platform development.
In addition to making programs accessible to developers of all education levels, skill levels, and backgrounds, open source development eliminates international barriers. Anyone in the world can work on B4X and other open source programs.
As technological literacy becomes paramount for the modern world with millions of young students learning the basics of code alongside basic math and reading skills, Leo Radvinsky believes open source and borderless tech is the key to the future.
For students in developing countries who don’t have easy access to coding classes in schools or private boot camps, working on open source projects provides them with both a sense of community and opportunities for paid work. Developers who don’t have funds for professional tools, or can’t access them in their territories, can easily publish and port their own apps with B4X with no restrictions on revenue generation.