Free software
Summary Description Newswire's 5 Minute Guides answers your questions about the free software movement and open source.
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Roullas Top10 Simon Vandore

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Article Topic 5 Minute Guides
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Story Group 001105
Post Date 30/10/2000 06:59 AM Status Posted Entered by Simon Vandore on 27/10/2000 11:43 AM


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What's behind the free software movement? Programmers have to make a living somehow!
Today's concept of free software distributed with source code (the uncompiled programming language used to create it) was invented by Richard Stallman, a professor at MIT, in 1984. It's often said to be analogous to free speech, as opposed to free beer. He founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and began to produce a free Unix variant called GNU (standing for Gnu's Not Unix). The idea was based on Stallman's experience as a programmer in the 1970s, when his colleagues shared and cannibalised each other's work for mutual benefit. He argues this produces better software, and many programmers agree.
Free software grants users the right to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the program. This means bugs can be fixed and new features added by anyone for community benefit. All improvements and modifications to the original source code must also be made available as free software for others to use and enhance.
How do you make money from giving something away?
Free software is not necessarily free of charge. The word "free" refers more to the freedoms involved, as in "set free". Such software can still be sold in a shrinkwrapped format with a manual, although it is often also made available for free download over the Internet. Money can also be made from offering user support, installation and systems integration services.
What's 'copyleft'?
Stallman came up with the term copyleft to describe a situation where a programmer's copyright over free software is waived, but anyone redistributing or modifying the software must also release it as free software and supply the source code without any new restrictions. The original programmer specifies the terms of the copyleft, but most use the standard GNU Public Licence (GPL).
Is this the same as freeware?
No, when software is released as freeware it is offered at no cost to the user, but still copyrighted by the author. The source code is not usually released. Software can also be released free of charge and without copyright into the 'public domain', which allows other programmers to incorporate it in their work without the author's permission, even in commercial work.
What about shareware?
Shareware is often mistaken for freeware, but it is definitely not meant to be free of charge. Shareware is a "try before you buy" method of software distribution -- it can be freely copied, installed and used without charge, but users are expected to send payment to the author if they continue using the software. Some shareware is time-limited and ceases to function after a certain number of days unless the programmer is paid, while other shareware does not function fully until a registration keycode is entered following payment.
What are some examples of free, open source software?
Linux, which Stallman likes to call GNU/Linux as it contains GNU code around a kernel written by Linus Torvalds, is the flagship of free software. Its success, reliability and ongoing development are a community effort. Most other free software is written for Linux, but some is cross-platform. Netscape Communicator and Sun Star Office are the two most well-known free, open source packages created by commercial organisations.
Microsoft is often seen as the antithesis of the free software movement, as it keeps source code private and secure. The free software movement claims this 'proprietary' software is less reliable because fewer people are involved in fixing bugs.
Does "open source" always mean the same as "free software"?
Not necessarily. Some companies have come up with their own definitions of open source software. They make the source code available and encourage the software community to look at it, but retain copyright and control over redistribution and modifications. This practice is common among big software companies trying to please the free software community while hanging on to their traditional revenue streams. It has also been used as a weapon against market dominance. Sun recently made its StarOffice productivity suite available as a free, open source download under the GPL in order to challenge Microsoft Office.



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Newswire's 5 Minute Guides answers your questions about the free software movement and open source.

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