Difference between free software and open source

in #blog7 years ago


Definition of free software:

  • The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
  • The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (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 distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

Definition of open source:

  • Free Redistribution The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.
  • Source Code The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. Where some form of a product is not distributed with source code, there must be a well-publicized means of obtaining the source code for no more than a reasonable reproduction cost preferably, downloading via the Internet without charge. The source code must be the preferred form in which a programmer would modify the program. Deliberately obfuscated source code is not allowed. Intermediate forms such as the output of a preprocessor or translator are not allowed.
  • Derived Works The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software.
  • Integrity of The Author's Source Code The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time. The license must explicitly permit distribution of software built from modified source code. The license may require derived works to carry a different name or version number from the original software.
  • No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.
  • No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research.
  • Distribution of License The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties.
  • License Must Not Be Specific to a Product The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a particular software distribution. If the program is extracted from that distribution and used or distributed within the terms of the program's license, all parties to whom the program is redistributed should have the same rights as those that are granted in conjunction with the original software distribution.
  • License Must Not Restrict Other Software The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. For example, the license must not insist that all other programs distributed on the same medium must be open-source software.
  • License Must Be Technology-Neutral No provision of the license may be predicated on any individual technology or style of interface.

There are also several pitfalls such as:

Source code of Firefox is a free software but it distributes and recommends non free software such as plugins and add-ons. Besides trademark license restrict distribution in several ways incompatible with freedom 0(the freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose).


Now why this matters?

Look at the Google’s android, it is open source but many things inside it are proprietary from Google apps to things like gps Bluetooth and other hardware features that require drivers or other software in order to work.

That is why there is replicant it is a free version of android.

But there are other things that free software doesn't change such as firmware.


Also open source licenses do not restrict distribution of same or modified copies while free software licenses demand distribution under free software license. But usually most open source licenses are also free software licenses and vice versa.

That is why it is possible to use open source code in free software but it is impossible to do the opposite.


tl;dr

Free software would rather delete proprietary software even if it is required for some feature, while open source would provide a way to install proprietary drivers if you need.

Now I am not huge expert in this so you should not take this for granted, so If I am wrong please notify me about it.


Source: http://zeronumbers.com/node/6

I am owner of website and articles, Image used is public domain but here is a link if you don't believe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Free_and_open-source_software_logo_(2009).svg

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Hi @zeronumbers your post explains the difference very well, I hope many get to read this.
Do you know if engineers or big funds are being directed to free source firmware?
I'm viewing efforts to "free" smartphones and PDAs, and then there is the TALOS II effort that has me confused:
RAPTOR Computing
https://secure.raptorcs.com/content/TL2B01/intro.html

  • IBM designed the processor...
  • CPU architecture has different instruction sets that do not support the current (legacy) instruction sets?
  • Less expensive to go with Libreboot...

Anyway there is a lot of activity for developers and techies to have fun!

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