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The user is free
- Free software is software that gives you the user the freedom to share, study and modify it. We call this free software because the user is free. To use free software is to make a political and ethical choice asserting the right to learn, and share what we learn with others.
www.fsf.org › about › what-is-free-softwareWhat is free software and why is it so important for society ...
Free software is software that gives you the user the freedom to share, study and modify it. We call this free software because the user is free. To use free software is to make a political and ethical choice asserting the right to learn, and share what we learn with others.
People also ask
Why do we call free software?
Why is free software called Free Software?
Why should we use free software?
What is a free program?
Free software, libre software, libreware [1] [2] or rarely known as freedom-respecting software is computer software distributed under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, and distribute it and any adapted versions.
- The Free Software Definition
- Clarifying The Boundary Between Free and Nonfree
- The Free Software Definition in Practice
- Beyond Software
- History
- Footnote
The free software definition presents the criteria for whether aparticular software program qualifies as free software. From time totime we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questionsabout subtle issues. See the History sectionbelow for a list of changes that affect the definition of freesoftware.
In the rest of this article we explain more precisely how far thevarious freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for aprogram to be free.
How we interpret these criteria
Note that criteria such as those stated in this free softwaredefinition require careful thought for their interpretation. To decidewhether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits theirspirit as well as the precise words. If a license includes unconscionablerestrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issuein these criteria. Sometimes a license requirement raises an issuethat calls for ex...
Get help with free licenses
If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a freesoftware license, see our listof licenses. If the license you are concerned with is notlisted there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at . If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact theFree Software Foundation first by writing to that address. Theproliferation of different free software licenses means increased workfor users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to...
Use the right words when talking about free software
When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using termslike “give away” or “for free,” because those terms imply thatthe issue is about price, not freedom. Some common terms suchas “piracy” embody opinions we hope you won't endorse. See Confusing Words and Phrases thatare Worth Avoiding for a discussion of these terms. We also havea list of proper translations of“free software”into various languages. Another group uses the term “open source” to meansomething close (but not identical...
Software manuals must be free,for the same reasons that software must be free, and because themanuals are in effect part of the software. The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works ofpractical use—that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,such as educational works and referenceworks. Wikipediais the best-knownexample. Any ...
From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition. Here isthe list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly whatwas changed. 1. Version1.169: Explain more clearly why the four freedoms must applyto commercial activity. Explain why the four freedoms imply thefreedom not to run the program and the freedom to delete it, so ther...
The reason they are numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 is historical. Around1990 there were three freedoms, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Then we realized thatthe freedom to run the program needed to be mentioned expli...
Jan 1, 2024 · When a program respects users' freedom and community, we call it “free software.” We also sometimes call it “libre software” to emphasize that we're talking about liberty, not price. Some proprietary (nonfree) programs, such as Photoshop, are very expensive; others, such as the Uber app, are available gratis—but that's a minor detail.
Free software, principle supporting the freedom of users to fully control their software. Software is considered “free” if it is offered by a developer without legal restriction against its study, redistribution, modification, or redistribution in modified form.
The Free Software Definition written by Richard Stallman and published by the Free Software Foundation (FSF), defines free software as being software that ensures that the users have freedom in using, studying, sharing and modifying that software. The term "free" is used in the sense of "free speech," not of "free of charge." [1]
‘Free software’ is a term that describes software that allows users to freely look at the programming code, modify it, distribute it, and use it without any restriction. WordPress chose the free software model because it has a philosophy that encourages a spirit of openness and sharing.
