What is free software? Does it mean the software is available free of cost? If it is, why are you getting it for free? How will you get it? From whom? Though the concept of free software has been widely discussed across the globe, many are still unaware of the basic concepts and principles behind free software.
Free Software is software which can be used, studied, modified and re-distributed without any restrictions. According to the concept, the software can be obtained, used, copied and re-distributed in a modified or unmodified version either without restriction or with minimal restrictions. The attempt is to ensure that more recipients will be able to copy and modify software.
The free software movement was conceived by Richard Stallman in 1983 to give the benefit of ‘software freedom’ to computer users. In 1985, the Free Software Foundation was established. Free Software Foundation, dedicated to eliminating restrictions on software freedom is a major movement in the history of software.
Free Software Foundation of India
Free Software Foundation India is a non-profit organisation committed to advocating, promoting and propagating the use and development of swatantra software (free software) in India. “Our goal is to ensure the long term adoption of free software and aim for the day when all software will be free. This includes educating people about software freedom and convincing them that it is the freedom that matters. We regard non-free software as a problem to be solved, not as a solution to any problem,” is how http://fsf.org.in/ introduces itself.
Free software is not free
It should be kept in mind that free software is a matter of freedom, not cost. The word ‘free’ in free software has a similar meaning as in free speech or free country. Free software is a software free of restrictions, not necessarily always free of cost.
According to Free Software Foundation, free software offers to four kinds of freedom to its users. First, the freedom to run the program for any purpose (freedom 0). Second, the freedom to study how the program works and adapt it to your needs. Access to the source code is a free condition for this (freedom 1). Third, the freedom to redistribute copies so you can help you neighbour (freedom 2). Finally, the freedom to improve the program and release your improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3).
The Foundation makes it clear free software does not mean non-commercial. A free program must be available for commercial use, commercial development and commercial distribution. Commercial development of free software is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important. The user may get the software either by paying an amount or free of cost. But regardless of how he gets the software, he’ll always have the freedom to copy and change the software, and sometimes even to sell it.
User gets the source code
What makes free software attractive to the user is the access and availability of source code. When free software is distributed, the human-readable form of the program - the source code – should be made available to the recipient along with a notice granting permission to use, study, modify and copy the software. This notice is called the free software licence.
Copyleft not Copyright
Copyright is a method of protecting the rights of the creator of a work. In most countries, software right is automatically copyrighted. A licence is the author’s way of allowing others to use his creation. For free software, this licence is Copyleft not Copyright.
Copyleft is a form of licencing for works such as software, documents, music and art. While copyright law allows an author the right to prohibit others from reproducing, adapting, or distributing copies of the author’s work the copyleft licensing scheme gives every person who receives a copy of a work permission to reproduce, adapt or distribute the work as long as any resulting copies or adaptations are also bound by the same copyleft licensing scheme.
http://fsf.org.in
http://www.fsf.org/licensing
www.debian.org