What is Free Software (FS)

1.

Computer programs that are not necessarily free of charge but give access to the source code and permit users the freedom to freely use, copy, modify, and redistribute. Learn more in: Open Source Software: A Developing Country View

2.

Software that can be used, studied, copied, modified, and redistributed without any restrictions, as defined by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). Learn more in: Open Source E-Learning Systems: Evaluation of Features and Functionality

3.

Software that can be used, copied, studied, modified, and redistributed without restriction. Learn more in: Free Software Philosophy and Open Source

4.

Software in which the underlying code is available to be inspected, modified, shared, with the proviso that it remains open, even following modification. To ensure it remains open, free software is distributed under the General Public License (GPL) or similar legal agreements. Learn more in: Social Technologies and the Digital Commons

5.

Software that others are open to use, copy, or modify. Learn more in: Motives and Methods for Quantitative FLOSS Research

6.

Software with freely available source code developed in the tradition of the Free Software Foundation and influenced by the writings of Richard Stallman. Learn more in: Morality and Pragmatism in Free Software and Open Source

7.

A term denoting software which fulfills the four freedoms, a set of standards set by the Free Software Foundation. See more http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html . Learn more in: The Evolution of Free Software

8.

FS has been introduced by Richard Stallman to denote users the freedom to execute it for any purpose, replicate, modify and redistribute copies of the original or modified software. “Free” in the free software refers to freedom, not refer to price. Free software is under copyleft, a distribution concept to make sure that software under this term is always free. Learn more in: Adopting Open Source Software in Smartphone Manufacturers' Open Innovation Strategy

9.

Free relates to liberty and not to price. It is similar to OSS but differs in the scope of the license. FS does not accept selective open sourcing in which companies may elect to make publicly available specific components of the source code instead of the entire code. Learn more in: Open Source Software: Strengths and Weaknesses

10.

Software that users have the freedom to alter, use, and redistribute, usually under the terms of the General Public License. Closely related to Open Source Software, the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. “Free” is not associated with cost but with the freedom associated with it. However, free software is often cost-free as well. Learn more in: Open Source Software and the Corporate World

11.

Software in which the underlying code is available to be inspected, modified, shared, with the proviso that it remains open, even following modification. To ensure it remains open, free software is distributed under the General Public License (GPL) or similar legal agreements. Learn more in: Social Technologies and the Digital Commons

12.

FS has been introduced by Richard Stallman to denote users freedom to execute it for any purpose, replicate, modify and redistribute copies of the original or modified software. “Free” in the free software refers to freedom, not refer to price. Free software is under copyleft , a distribution concept to make sure that software under this term is always free. Learn more in: The Impact of Open Source Software on Smartphones Industry