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In the world of software development, one of the most fundamental dichotomies lies between open-source and proprietary software. Each type has its proponents and critics, and the debate over which is better is ongoing. To better understand these two paradigms, we'll look at them through the lens of one of the most iconic examples of open-source software: the Linux Bash shell. Firstly, let's define our terms. Open-source software is characterized by its license that allows users to freely access, modify, and distribute the source code. Examples include Linux, Apache, and Mozilla Firefox. Proprietary software, on the other hand, refers to software that is legally protected and its source code is not available to the public.