[FreeGeek] free software, open source software definitions

[ifny]

for any who may be unfamiliar with the distinction between the terms
"open source software" and "free software," the following links should
be helpful.


THE FREE SOFTWARE DEFINITION  http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

"Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the
concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free
beer.

"Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,
distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it
refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

    * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
    * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your
needs (freedom 1).
            Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
    * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
(freedom 2).
    * The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements to the public, so
            that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to
the source code is a
            precondition for this."



WHY FREE SOFTWARE IS BETTER THAN OPEN SOURCE

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html

"The fundamental difference between the two movements is in their
values, their ways of looking at the world. For the Open Source
movement, the issue of whether software should be open source is a
practical question, not an ethical one. As one person put it, ``Open
source is a development methodology; free software is a social
movement.'' For the Open Source movement, non-free software is a
suboptimal solution. For the Free Software movement, non-free software
is a social problem and free software is the solution."


the free beer thing makes a lot of sense. i like thinking comparing
open source to a vegetarian who eats eggs (and maybe even...fish...).

~!fny