Free Software (free as in freedom, not $$$) vs Open Source Software

[safeguy]

Free Software (free as in freedom, not $$$) vs Open Source Software
(Take note of the title)

I'm pretty sure some of you here (if not all) would have known that open-source software need not necessarily be free (free as in free beer, no cost, no $$$)...but the topic here isn't about that...

More importantly, I want to point out an even wider misconception of users that open-source software = free software (free as in freedom of speech, not free beer or no cost)...yes, it's a misconception (I'm sure not all of you would have realized that)

Although they do have some overlaying similarities, they are actually 2 different campaigns with different philosophical views...(but they do work along together fine most of the times)

I suggest you read this article here:

Why Open Source misses the point of Free Software
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-s...the-point.html

Nearly all open source software is free software. The two terms describe almost the same category of software, but they stand for views based on fundamentally different values. Open source is a development methodology; free software is a social movement. For the free software movement, free software is an ethical imperative, because only free software respects the users' freedom. By contrast, the philosophy of open source considers issues in terms of how to make software “better”—in a practical sense only. It says that nonfree software is an inferior solution to the practical problem at hand. For the free software movement, however, nonfree software is a social problem, and the solution is to stop using it and move to free software.

And this Wikipedia article here:

Open source software vs. free software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-so..._free_software

The main difference is that by choosing one term over the other (i.e. either "open source" or "free software") you let others know about what your goals are.

"As one person put it, 'Open source is a development methodology; free software is a social movement.'"

Critics have said that the term “open source” fosters an ambiguity of a different kind such that it confuses the mere availability of the source with the freedom to use, modify, and redistribute it. Developers have used the alternative terms Free/open source Software (FOSS), or Free/Libre/open source Software (FLOSS), consequently, to describe open source software which is also free software.

The term “Open Source” was originally intended to be trademarkable; however, the term was deemed too descriptive, so no trademark exists[20]. The OSI would prefer that people treat Open Source as if it were a trademark, and use it only to describe software licensed under an OSI approved license.[21].

OSI Certified is a trademark licensed only to people who are distributing software licensed under a license listed on the Open Source Initiative's list[22].

Open source software and free software are different terms for software which comes with certain rights, or freedoms, for the user. They describe two approaches and philosophies towards free software. Open source and free software (or software libre) both describe software which is free from onerous licensing restrictions. It may be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed without restriction. Free software is not the same as freeware, software available at zero price.

The definition of open source software was written to be almost identical to the free software definition[23]. There are very few cases of software that is free software but is not open source software, and vice versa. The difference in the terms is where they place the emphasis. “Free software” is defined in terms of giving the user freedom. This reflects the goal of the free software movement. “Open source” highlights that the source code is viewable to all and proponents of the term usually emphasize the quality of the software and how this is caused by the development models which are possible and popular among free and open source software projects.

Free software licenses are not written exclusively by the FSF. The FSF and the OSI both list licenses which meet their respective definitions of free software.

The FSF believes that knowledge of the concept of freedom is an essential requirement[23][24], insists on the use of the term free[23][24], and separates itself from the open source movement[23][24].

And yes, let me tell you this while Mozilla Firefox is an open-source software, it isn't a free software (as in freedom of speech)...figure it out for yourself

P.S. To clear misunderstanding, here's the summary:

Difference in naming:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_an...oftware#Naming

[biscuits]

Why is not Mozilla FF considered free software?

Cant we do the following to Firefox?

A. run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0)
B. study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1)
C. redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2)
D.improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3)

*from wikipedia*

[safeguy]

The Firefox source-code is free but the trademarks (e.g. logos and the "Mozilla Firefox" name) and licensing policies prevents it from being fully categorized as "free software"...

When you see Firefox being mentioned as "free and open-source", it means free (as in free beer) and open-source ("freedom" to modify the code)...but the use of the logo and name still require approval from Mozilla itself...sounds complicated but that's how the geeks work

[kavinraja]

I once believed that open source is always free when i hear its name for the first time. But it isn't as you know.

Redhat is open source, but its not free of charge.
Wine (codeweaver) is open source, but its not free too.

P.S:- For an info guys, Wine is now coming with 40 percent discount (for another few days only) guys. Irrelevant to this topic, but i just wished to say.

[hellnoire]

Wine is the free (cost) version, Codeweavers is the paid version. Slight error there Kavinraja.

[kavinraja]

Oops! Its a big mistake.
Thats why i have used codeweavers in bracket in the first line Hellnoire. But i accidentally mentioned wine in the PS thing, as i was busy in my college lab while typing that.

Hmm! Which one do you prefer Hellnoire? Wine or crossover?
(Neglecting money as a factor).

[hellnoire]

I've not tried Crossover yet, that's on my to-do list. I'll do that tomorrow...

People need to start reminding me of what I need to do... I should set up a forum post for that