[1] : Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

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 an 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.


see also:
open source 

[2] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

free software
     
        according to richard stallman and the free software
        foundation, free software is software that everyone is free
        to copy, redistribute and modify.  that implies it must be
        available as source code.  it does not imply that it is free
        of charge, so anyone can sell free software so long as they
        don't impose any new restrictions on its redistribution or
        use.
     
        this dictionary is free in this sense, though it is not
        really software.
     
        there are many other kinds of "free software" in the more
        obvious sense of "free of charge".  see "-ware".
     
     
see also:
richard stallman free software foundation this dictionary software -ware 

Free Software >> F Words
Free Software, definition of term: Free Software
free+software_pag1.html

Free >> F Words
Free, definition of term: Free
free_pag1.html

Free Radical >> F Words
Free Radical, definition of term: Free Radical
free+radical_pag1.html

Free Morpheme >> F Words
Free Morpheme, definition of term: Free Morpheme
free+morpheme_pag1.html

Free School >> F Words
Free School, definition of term: Free School
free+school_pag1.html

Free Port >> F Words
Free Port, definition of term: Free Port
free+port_pag1.html

Free Spirit >> F Words
Free Spirit, definition of term: Free Spirit
free+spirit_pag1.html

Free Throw >> F Words
Free Throw, definition of term: Free Throw
free+throw_pag1.html

Free Stuff >> F Words
Free Stuff, definition of term: Free Stuff
free+stuff_pag1.html

Free Love >> F Words
Free Love, definition of term: Free Love
free+love_pag1.html

Page 1 2 Next