Free software does NOT mean that you do not have to pay to get it. Free software is a matter of freedom, not price. In order for software to be free, users must be able to run, copy, distribute (with a fee or without a fee), study, change and improve the software.
Do not confuse free software with open source software. Although they are very similar, the philosophy behind them is different. Free software is about ethics and open source software is about being practical.
Do not confuse free software with open source software. Although they are very similar, the philosophy behind them is different. Free software is about ethics and open source software is about being practical.
It's pretty amazing that so many people illegally use proprietary software as if it was free software. Why don't they just use free software and avoid legal issues?
by a thing June 26, 2005
Get the free softwaremug. NOT AN OPERATING SYSTEM!!!!!!!!
Linux is a KERNEL, NOT AN OPERATING SYSTEM started by Linus Torvalds in 1991 at University of Helsinki in Finland. Linux was at first just a hobby for Linus. Linux is free software.
It just so happened that just when Linux was getting usable, GNU had everything it needed except a kernel. Thus, people started using Linux with GNU to make a completely free UNIX-like operating system called GNU/Linux.
Today Linux and GNU/Linux have come a long way from the early 1990's, although they're still mostly used by geeks.
Linux is a KERNEL, NOT AN OPERATING SYSTEM started by Linus Torvalds in 1991 at University of Helsinki in Finland. Linux was at first just a hobby for Linus. Linux is free software.
It just so happened that just when Linux was getting usable, GNU had everything it needed except a kernel. Thus, people started using Linux with GNU to make a completely free UNIX-like operating system called GNU/Linux.
Today Linux and GNU/Linux have come a long way from the early 1990's, although they're still mostly used by geeks.
by a thing June 26, 2005
Get the Linuxmug. GNU General Public License
A copyleft free software license. That means that anyone can do anything with something under the GPL except deny others' rights given by them by the GPL. Also the GPL requires that all copyright notices and notices that refer to the GPL stay.
A copyleft free software license. That means that anyone can do anything with something under the GPL except deny others' rights given by them by the GPL. Also the GPL requires that all copyright notices and notices that refer to the GPL stay.
by a thing August 20, 2005
Get the GPLmug.