We explain what Free Software is and the freedoms that this type of program allows. Also, the types that exist and some examples.
What is free software?
Free Software refers to thoseSoftware what do they give to their users, by explicit decision of its programmers and designers, access to the source code or original programming code in which they were manufactured, so that you can copy, modify, customize and distribute it freely. This gives rise, therefore, to multiple versions of the same program, whose appearance does not represent a legal or ethical violation of the original program.
The term Free Software is attributed to the American Richard Stallman, who was the founder of theFree SoftwareFoundation (Free Software Foundation) in which a significant number of computer experts aspired to develop a Operating system totally free, which they called the GNU Project (To distinguish it from Unix).
This project would allow its advanced users to collaborate with its development and improvement, free of charge and in the community, going against the Business traditional of software, that guard the source code of their products.
While many of the Free Software presentations are free or cost the equivalent of distribution only (and not payment of royalties), Free Software should not be confused withFreeware o Free software (usually in trial versions), nor should it be construed as a plea for piracy (theft of copyrighted software).
The idea is precisely to create software that belongs to those who use it and that can be adapted to their needs by themselves.
There is an important trend, especially in so-called Third World countries, to implement in their institutions Officials or state organizations only Free Software, thus replacing copyrighted programs that generate annual license renewal expenses.
This in addition to saving money gives them a greater autonomy in managing your information and allows them to avoidrisks to their sovereignty, since the free code of these pieces of software can be adapted free of charge to their specific needs.
Essential freedoms
Known as "the four essential freedoms", the following set of permissions is essential to distinguish between Free Software and traditional commercial type.
- Freedom # 0. Freedom to run the program as desired, for whatever purpose, without the need to notify anyone.
- Freedom # 1. Freedom to study the operation of the program and alter it to carry out the desired tasks. For this, free access to the source code of the program is a requirement.
- Freedom # 2. Freedom to redistribute copies of the original program, for the enjoyment and assistance of the community, without the need to notify anyone.
- Freedom # 3. Freedom to distribute copies of modified versions to third parties, without the need to notify anyone, allowing the entire community to benefit from alterations and new versions of the program.
A program is considered as Free Software if it gives its users all these described freedoms. Otherwise, it is not a free program. There are several non-free distributions of programs obtained by modifying the source code of these free programs, which is considered by the Free Software community as contrary to the ethics.
Types of free software
In principle, Free Software can be of any type, from operating systems to control in a personalized way the operation and resources of the computer, to applications adaptable to the needs of the user, intervening videogames, and management programs peripherals that can be modified to meet the specific requirements of various pieces of hardware.
Examples of free software
Some of the most popular distributions or presentations in the world of Free Software are the following:
- GNU / Linux. One of the most historically and popularly important programs, it has spearheaded the effort for open source software in the Internet world since 1983.
- Chrome OS. Based on the Linux kernel, this operating system is currently under development by the company Google Inc. It will use the Google Chrome browser as its main interface and is 100% cloud-based.
- VALO-CD. It is a CD with open source software designed to operate under the Microsoft Windows environment, developed by Finnish programmers in 2008.
- OpenDisc. Another set of open source tools designed to work on Microsoft Windows, created in 2007 to educate users on the use of Linux.
- Ubuntu. It is a free GNU / Linux distribution that uses technology GNOME as its virtual desktop environment, whose creator company survives by offering technical support to its users.