Why was the Free Software Movement started?
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- GollumX
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Great post there Jamie.
Yeah Robbie that is a huge problem with the term "Free Software".. people interpret it as free as in free beer ... like Robert has done in the next post. ( cheers wage )
The term "Free software" means software you have absolute freedom to do with as you wish. You can sell Free Software, modify it, rename it, etc. Free Software is usually licensed under GNU/GPL. In order to protect the freedoms though, one right is taken away, and that is that you cannot change the license of the app/script/product. This ensures it remains free forever.
So basically, free as in free speech, not free beer. - Say no to Internet Explorer 6.
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- Robby Timmermans
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Jamie Phillips wrote:
In other words show them - their ignorance.I would love to do that. But on the other hand, I also love to actually do a sale from time to time
The term Open Source is much easier to explain (even if the explanation isn't 100% correct) than free software. Most of the times I say it's open source with the GNU/GPL license, but when you hear my explanation it's acually the free software explanation. Like GollumX said, look at Roberts post. Most people interpret Free Software like that.
Even with the term Open Source a lot of people think it is for free, but with this term it's easier to explain why it isn't (except for the occasional teenager who doesn't grasp business concepts yet). - I use simplix, does this mean that I'm a simple guy ?
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- Daniel Chapman
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Some nice posts.
Free Sotware as in the Free Software Movement = Free as in liberty/speech
You can do anything you like with Free software except change the license. e.g. Joomla is free software. You could take a copy of Joomla, change the name and sell it as your own CMS if you like.
The Joomla team did that themsleves when they forked Mambo (minus the selling bit) used the freedom of the free software licensing to make a new program based off Mambo.
You can charge for Free Software if you like.
Open Source Means that you can see and change the source code. This is an inherent part of Free Software, so Open Source Software could be considered a sub category of Free Software - Kinda Free Software ;D
Software called 'open source' may or may not be totally 'free' (as in liberty) it may be proprietary and things like distribution may or may not be ok.
You can charge for Open Source software if you like
'No charge' software is sometimes called free software but it does not belong in the free software movement. This software is given to you at no cost.
Often Free Software is also no cost software but not always. It is often no cost because I can buy a copy and then distribute it for free or for $5 less than the maker, making it difficult to sell it in the first place because now it's available for a lower price. But, this is key, Free (liberty) Software does not have to be no charge.
Many people confuse Free Liberty software with Free Price Software and this confusion puts pressure on developers to continue to slave away on software with no reward.
In any area other than software it would be considered ridiculous to demand soeone works for you for no charge, or to demand someone gives you goods for no charge. But in the software world we see it every day where people who provide open source/free (liberty) software with a price attached are attacked and insulted as being greedy and immoral.
A developer who chooses to give you freedom to do what you like with the code you purchase is villified a lot more than a totally proprietary developer who limits or denies totally your freedom with the software. It's just crazy. ???
- Last Edit: 17 years 2 months ago by Daniel Chapman.
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- The Wingman
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Why are you making me think so early in the morning? (yes, it is noon here, but I am not up till at least 3 PM)
- "You can learn a lot from a dummy. So, pay attention to yourself." Quote by me.
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- Robby Timmermans
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Daniel Chapman wrote:
Open Source Means that you can see and change the source code. This is an inherent part of Free Software, so Open Source Software could be considered a sub category of Free Software - Kinda Free Software ;D
Actually no, because Open Source allows licensing models that aren't allowed under Free Software. - I use simplix, does this mean that I'm a simple guy ?
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- Daniel Chapman
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You are right, but I meant in the see and change respect they are usually identical. You lose the other stuff. Perhaps 'overlaps with' is a better way to express it than sub category.
They both share that same feature but (may) differ on others such as distribution. -
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