Week 8 - Response to content: Free Software
Free software, which to many is also known as open source software emerged in tandem with the Internet both in a technical and social form. The best way to understand free software in detail is to think about everything you use while on the computer. Like for example e-mail, MSN, Skype or Facebook. You could also look at it with a different perspective like identity thieves and privacy issues towards those free softwares. (Kelty, 2008)
What is free software? Free software is a software that can be used, studied, and edited without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that other people who receives can also do these things and that manufacturers of consumer-facing hardware allow user modifications to their hardware. Free software is generally available without charge, but can have a fee, such as in the form of charging for CDs or other distribution medium among other ways.
What is the difference between free software and open source software? The main difference is that by choosing one term over the other ("open source" or "free software") one lets others know about what one's goals are. "Open source is a development methodology; free software is a social movement." (Stallmann, 2002)
References:
Christopher M. Kelty, "Two Bits: The Significance of Free Software", 2008
Richard M. Stallmann, "Free Software Free Society", 2nd edition, 2002.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software
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