Entries Tagged 'Freedom in Software' ↓
September 17th, 2005 — Freedom in Software
I was reviewing the latest Linux For You and liked TheOpenCD bundled with it.
The Open CD contains a compilation of high quality Open Source software for Windows. It is intended as a first introduction to the rich world of Open Source. Also included are relevant add-ons, documentation, and tutorials.
I strongly recommend this CD to anybody who wants to taste freedom based software on their Windows operating systems.
Some other resources relevant to Free Software:
September 15th, 2005 — Freedom in Software
Neil McAllister writes on InfoWorld:
Truly, the world is addicted to Microsoft Office. But beginning January 2007, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts plans to kick the habit. That’s the deadline after which all documents used by Massachusetts state government agencies must be stored in open formats, according to broad technology plans issued by the Commonwealth earlier this month. Currently, approved formats include PDF and OpenDocument, a free, XML-based office document standard used by several alternative office suites.
This is debate that’s hotting up as Microsoft is announcing the next release of Office - “Office 12″ at it’s Developers’ Conference 
September 9th, 2005 — Freedom in Software
A lot of software is available at no cost. Free, as in free beer, or free chai! You can download a GNU/Linux operating system from the Internet, you can download a browser, you get loads of software with the computer magazine you buy, you get a copy of something from your friend – all for free of cost. No charge.
Shouldn’t all Free Software be free of cost too? I mean, if you are getting it for free, why do I pay for it? This is a good question.
The answer is simple! Free software does not mean free of cost software. It means freedom software. Developing software costs money and somebody has to pay the bill. If all software was made free of cost, all software developers would die of starvation soon. If we want to keep innovating in the software business, we need to make money and invest it further. So even if the software is freedom based, you may have to pay for the service you are getting, for the support, consultancy or additional features.
Remember, there is no real thing as a free lunch! There is always some cost associated.
September 7th, 2005 — Freedom in Software
When your car breaks down, who do you go to for repairs? Do you go to the company who made the car? Do you go to the authorized mechanics? Can you go to any car mechanic if you wanted to, and get it fixed? Do you have the freedom to open the bonnet yourself and fix it if you knew how to?
When your software breaks down, who do you go to for repairs? Do you go to the company who made the software? Do you go to the authorized partners? Can you go to any software developer if you wanted to, and get it fixed? Do you have the freedom to open the source code and fix it if you knew how to?
Can you change the color and the bumpers of your car the way you like and then sell the car to somebody else? Can he sell it further, making changes that he likes?
Can you change the look and features of your software the way you like and then sell it to somebody else? Can he sell it further, making changes that he likes?
You may never open the bonnet of your car to fix it. You may never take it to the garage near your home. But you have the right to do that.
Free Software is about freedom to run, study, fix and redistribute software.
You get the picture!
September 5th, 2005 — Freedom in Software
Excerpted and adapted from the book “Free For All” by Peter Wayner.
The meanings attached with the word “free” are one of the best marketing devices. Every marketer knows that for a free cookie, people will come to your far away store. Microsoft saw Netscape emerging as a competitor and they gave away Internet Explorer for free. This of course got Netscape out of business and put IE at the top. It’s ironic that Microsoft is facing the heat now with a bunch of people who started giving out an operating system for “free”.
The word “free” has a much more complicated meaning in the free software movement. In fact, many people who give away their software don’t even like the word “free” and prefer to use “open” to describe the process of sharing. In the case of free software, this is not just an ad campaign to make people feel good about buying a product. The word “free” is more about a way of life. The folks who write the code throw around the word in much the same way the Founding Fathers of the United States used it. To many of them, the free software revolution was also conceived in liberty and dedicated to certain principles like the fact that all men and women have certain inalienable rights to change, modify, and do whatever they please with their software in the pursuit of happiness.
“Free For All” documents the history of how Linux, Free Software Foundation, and everything around them evolved. It talks about all the hackers who lay foundation for the movement and supported it. The story is not fiction; it’s filled up with details of how things actually happened. So it can get a little dry to read, but I still recommend it to all who are interested in learning what shaped the movement that is reshaping the software world today.
