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The Dawn of Naval Aviation
The inception of heavier-than-air, fixed-wing aircraft in 1903 marked a new era in military capabilities. The US Navy’s cruiser USS Birmingham witnessed the first experimental aircraft take-off in 1910, followed by the first successful landings in 1911. The Japanese Navy’s seaplane tender Wakamiya, in 1914, executed the first successful naval-launched air raids, marking the beginning of naval aviation combat operations.

The Rise of the Fleet Carrier
The interwar period saw significant advancements in aircraft carrier design, spurred by the limitations imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. The treaty allowed the US and UK to maintain up to 135,000 tons of carriers each, leading to the conversion of existing capital ship hulls into carriers like the Lexington-class. The 1920s witnessed the commissioning of purpose-built carriers, such as HMS Hermes, which set the stage for the fleet carriers that would dominate naval strategy during World War II.

World War II: A Crucible for Carrier Innovation
World War II was a pivotal moment for aircraft carriers, with the conflict driving innovation and the creation of various types, including escort carriers like USS Bogue and light carriers such as USS Independence. These vessels played crucial roles in convoy protection and amphibious operations, showcasing the versatility and strategic value of carrier-based air power.

The Modern Supercarrier
Today’s supercarriers, such as the Nimitz class, represent the zenith of carrier development. Displacing over 75,000 tonnes and powered by nuclear reactors, these ships are the backbone of a fleet’s offensive capabilities. Amphibious assault ships, like USS Tarawa and HMS Ocean, have expanded the role of carriers to include the deployment of Marines and helicopters, further solidifying the aircraft carrier’s place as the capital ship of the fleet.

The Vulnerability and Protection of Carriers
Despite their formidable presence, aircraft carriers are vulnerable to attack from ships, aircraft, submarines, and missiles. As a result, they are typically escorted by a battle group or carrier group, which provides protection and additional offensive capabilities.

The Future of Aircraft Carriers
The debate over the relevance of aircraft carriers in modern warfare continues, with some arguing that advancements in anti-ship weaponry have rendered them obsolete. However, nations continue to invest in these ships due to their ability to project power and quickly respond to regional conflicts.

Specialized Carrier Types
Anti-Submarine Warfare Carriers
ASW carriers, designed to hunt and destroy submarines, emerged during the Cold War. Nations like Japan continue to operate these specialized ships, although the role of fixed-wing ASW aircraft has diminished in favor of shore-based patrol and ship-based ASW helicopters.

Helicopter Carriers
Helicopter carriers, such as HMS Ocean, are designed primarily to operate helicopters. These ships have evolved to accommodate STOVL aircraft like the Harrier Jump Jet, blurring the lines between traditional helicopter carriers and light aircraft carriers.

Light Aircraft Carriers
Light aircraft carriers, smaller than fleet carriers, have played significant roles in naval operations. The US Navy’s Independence-class carriers, converted from cruisers, and the British 1942 design light fleet carriers are notable examples. Today, nations like Italy and Spain operate modern light carriers, such as the Cavour and Juan Carlos I.

Amphibious Assault Ships
Amphibious assault ships, like the US Navy’s Wasp class, are designed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory. These ships have revolutionized amphibious warfare by providing air support and transporting landing craft, enabling assaults on diverse coastlines.

The Legacy of Seaplane Tenders
Seaplane tenders were the precursors to aircraft carriers, providing operational platforms for seaplanes before the development of flight decks. These ships, such as the French La Foudre and the Japanese Wakamiya, played a role in early naval aviation but were eventually superseded by true aircraft carriers.

The Supercarrier Era
The term “supercarrier” was first used to describe HMS Ark Royal in 1938. Today, the United States leads in supercarrier development with the Gerald R. Ford class, while the UK and France are also contributing to the supercarrier landscape with the Queen Elizabeth class and potential future vessels.

Conclusion
Aircraft carriers have come a long way since their inception, evolving into the supercarriers that dominate naval strategy today. Despite their vulnerabilities, their ability to project power and provide rapid military response continues to make them valuable assets for the nations that possess them. As technology and warfare evolve, so too will the design and capabilities of these maritime titans.

OPEN SOURCE IN THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT

The open source term originated in the context of software development to designate a certain approach to build computer programs. However, these days, open source designates a broader values set or what is called the open source way. Open source products, projects or initiatives embrace and celebrate open exchange principles, rapid prototyping, collaborative participation, meritocracy, transparency and development that is community-oriented.

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE AND OTHER KINDS OF SOFTWARE
Some software possess source code that only the person, the team or the organization who made it and maintains exclusive control on it could modify. This is called ‘proprietary’ or ‘closed source’ software. Only the original authors could copy, inspect and change it legally. Furthermore, to use proprietary software, users of a computer should agree, typically by singing a license displayed the first time they run the software that they would not do anything with the software that the authors have not expressly permitted.

An open source software is different. The authors make the source code available to others who want to see the code, copy, learn from it, alter or share it. The same as with proprietary software, users should accept the license terms when they use it but the legal terms of open source licenses significantly vary from those of proprietary licenses. The open source licenses impact the way people could use, study, change and distribute software. Generally, open source licenses grant permission to computer users to use it for any purpose they want.

THE RELEVANCE OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

Is open source software only relevant to programmers? The answer is no. Open source technology as well as open source thinking benefit programmers and non-programmers alike. Since early inventors created much of the internet itself on technologies that are open source, such as Linus and Apache Web server application, anyone who uses the internet nowadays benefits from an open source software. Each time a computer user views web pages, chat with friends, check email, stream music online or play multiplayer video games, their mobile phones, computers or gaming consoles connect to a worldwide network of computers using open source software for routing and transmitting data to the local devices in front of them. The computers that perform all this vital work typically are located in far places that users do not actually see or could not access physically, which is the reason why some call these computers as remote computers.

WHY PEOPLE OPT FOR OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
People opt to use open source software to proprietary one for several reasons, such as the following:

1. CONTROL. A lot of people prefer open source because they have more control over it. They could check out code to ensure that it is not doing anything that they do not want it to do. Furthermore, they could change parts if they do not like. Non-programmer users benefit from open source as well, since they could use it for any intent they wish, not just the way that someone else thinks they should.
2. SECURITY. Some people go for open source software since they consider it to be more stable and secure. As anyone could see and modify it, someone could spot and correct errors or omissions that the original authors have missed. Furthermore, since a lot of programmers could work on a piece of software with no need to ask permission from the original authors, they could fix and upgrade it faster than they could with proprietary software.
3. TRAINING. Other people like open source since it helps them to become better programmers. Because open source code is accessible publicly, students could study it easily as they learn how to make better software. Moreover, students could share their work with others, invite comment and critique as they develop their skills.
4. STABILITY. A lot of users prefer open source software than proprietary software for long-term, critical projects. As programmers distribute the source code publicly for open source software, users who rely on the software for vital tasks could ascertain that their tools will not disappear or fall to disrepair if the original creators will stop working on them. In addition, open source tends to integrate and operate based on open standards.

Without a doubt, open source software is a great option for a lot of people. It is not just advantageous for computer programmers but even users of computers who are non-programmers as well.