How to explain open source projects to a non-technical audience

Try to explain with a simple example to a general audience. First, tell your friends, and see how they react. If everything is very complicated, try to find an explanation on the Internet. For example, I was in such situations when it was necessary to describe how an online game works. The channel https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/2022/ helped me a lot. Wish you good luck!

One way to explain open source projects to a non-technical audience is to use an analogy. For example, you could compare an open source project to a public park. Just as a public park is open to everyone and can be enjoyed and used by anyone, an open source project is open to everyone and can be used by anyone. Just as a public park is maintained and improved by the community, an open source project is maintained and improved by a community of volunteers.

Interesting explanation. The funny thing is as a technical person I feel this is overly simplified and doesn't cover all the variables but for your non-tech audience, it works. I guess that means you have succeeded in what you set out to do - explain open source to a non-techie.

As a non-technical person, I found this analogy very helpful. Thanks!