An Open Source Platform
If you're new to the world of open source, you are in for a treat. This book does not go into detail about the open source hardware movement, but it is worth knowing a bit about the ideologies that make working with the Arduino so wonderful. If you want a full rundown of what open source hardware is, check out the official definitions on the Open Source Hardware Association website (blum.fyi/OSHW-Definition).
Because the Arduino is open source hardware, all the design files, schematics, and source code are freely available to everybody. This means that you can more easily hack the Arduino to serve a very particular function, and also integrate the Arduino platform into your designs, make and sell Arduino clones, and use the Arduino software libraries in other projects. There are hundreds of Arduino derivative boards available (often with specialized functions added on to them).
The Arduino open source license also permits commercial reuse of their designs...
