[FreeGeek] free software, open source software definitions

[sim]

On 11/4/06, ifny <iamlachance at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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...).

Vegetarianism is an apt comparison. There are many different software
licenses each with a different motivation.

A radical free license, like the GPL, that requires the source remain
available, is a viral tool crafted by people who believe all software
should be free. The GPL prevents the software from ever becoming
closed source.

This is sort of like a vegan who believes it is wrong to take life and
won't eat eggs or fish or install FlashPlayer.

A license like the Berkley license is more pragmatic, it basically
stated is: do whatever, no warranty. It tends to be used by people
just seeking to create great software by pragmatically enlisting users
help. This would be more like the pragmatic vegetarian who abstains
from meat because of the economic and environmental impacts of raising
animals intensively in cages and feedlots.

With software, when one person makes an improvement, every user can
benefit from it for the cost of transferring the update over the
network. If you want to use the best software, the smartest thing to
do is share the code with everyone in the hope that someone will send
you an improved version.

Just as with vegetarianism, many other motivations and combinations
are found many other licenses. All promote the idea of free software
in some form.

The various facets of the free software movement have together created
an immense body of work over the past two decades. By working together
openly with no central management or leader, programmers worldwide
have created an amazing system.

It is an amazing gift and one of the implicit terms of use is that you
try and find a way to give something back to the community.

There are many ways to contribute. People write documentation, help
with installs, answer questions, send bug reports, organize meetings,
employ programmers and much more.

The Portland Freegeek contributes to the free software movement in many ways:

By reducing the environmental impact of our computer use. Who needs
KDE when you have cancer?

By distributing systems installed with free software, increasing the user base.

By providing a safe and stable space for people to work and learn.
Imagine hacking drivers in a warehouse full of any imaginable part!

You can't give hardware away to everyone for free like you can with
software, but Freegeek makes technology available locally to everyone
affordably and grants it in places it will make the most difference.

Freegeek Portland's third principle is:
Use Free/Open Source Software wherever possible and must promote the
Free Software philosophy in other ways, such as transparent
collaboration with others.


-- 
sim