Clone
𐑒𐑤𐑴𐑯
In the various contexts I usually talk about, a clone is a device or product that's heavily based on another one, often to the point of compatability.
Some clones are pretty trivial, such as Aldi and Lidl cloning well-known brands of groceries as much cheaper alternatives. Besides saving people money while still offering something similar, these can, at least theoretically, force the big brand-name companies to stay competitive.
In the context of computing, clones can be extremely useful, such as BSD and Linux cloning Unix. Both improve upon the original by being free software. Similarly, while more selfish than idealist, IBM PC clones prevented a potential monopoly.
Alas, sometimes it works the other way, with well-known brands being clones of lesser-known original products. The popular board game Monopoly is a clone of the much more obscure original, The Landlord's Game. Similarly, the previously popular DOS was a clone of the more obscure CP/M.
As with most things, cloning isn't inherently good or bad. It depends on many factors, such as how large both the cloned and cloning companies are, how long the original product's been around, whether it's been discontinued, and whether the clone improves on the original in a much-needed way, even if it's just the license.
Clones: 100 Series (Behringer) | 900 Series (Behringer) | 900 Series (Synth-Werk) | Beige box | Concussor | DOS | Diode-01 | DrumStation | FreeDOS | Gateron MX switches | Gobricks | HD6303X | K-2 | Keychron switches | Lego clone | MS-1 | MS-5 | Model D | RD-6 | RE-808 | Solina String Ensemble | Soviet ZX Spectrum clones | Sweet Sixteen | TMP80C49P | μPD780 | μPD8048 | μPD8049 | μPD8080 | μPD70216 | VC340
