Open Source Pavilion
tux-paper By Treviño I am sitting in on a lecture by Steve Hargadon about open source and software freedom.
http://www.stevehargadon.com/
Many users get support online, practically nobody uses a phone system. It is not unusual to source help information on the web. Whilst there are some huge advantages but we should not move on that alone.
When he asked somebody to describe what was meant by freedom and pointed to me in the front row (I was using a Linux thin-client laptop) I had the chance to explain that the concept had more to do with "free speech" and not "free beer". Steve smiled and moved on to his next slide and explained that it was a matter of liberty, not price.
If I can quote from the GNU website (link) it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.