free software

2 definitions found

free software - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  free software
  FOSS
  free open-source software
  
     <software> Software that everyone is free to copy,
     redistribute and modify.  That implies free software must be
     available as source code, hence "free open source software"
     - "FOSS".  It is usually also free of charge, though anyone
     can sell free software so long as they don't impose any new
     restrictions on its redistribution or use.  The widespread
     acceptance of this definition and free software itself owes a
     great deal to Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation
     .
  
     There are many other kinds of "free software" in the sense of
     "free of charge".  See "-ware".
  
     This dictionary is free in both senses, though since it is
     documentation not software it is distributed under the
     GFDL.
  
     (2007-02-09)
  

free software - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  free software
   n.
  
     As defined by Richard M. Stallman and used by the Free Software
     movement, this means software that gives users enough freedom to be
     used by the free software community. Specifically, users must be free
     to modify the software for their private use, and free to
  redistribute
     it either with or without modifications, either commercially or
     noncommercially, either gratis or charging a distribution fee. Free
     software has existed since the dawn of computing; Free Software as a
     movement began in 1984 with the GNU Project.
  
     RMS observes that the English word "free" can refer either to liberty
     (where it means the same as the Spanish or French "libre") or to
  price
     (where it means the same as the Spanish "gratis" or French
  "gratuit").
     RMS and other people associated with the FSF like to explain the word
     "free" in "free software" by saying "Free as in speech, not as in
     beer."
  
     See also open source. Hard-core proponents of the term "free
     software" sometimes reject this newer term, claiming that the style
  of
     argument associated with it ignores or downplays the moral imperative
     at the heart of free software.