Free Software

Free Software 

Free Software:

• “Free software” means software that respects users' freedom and community.

• Free software refers to software that users can use, modify, and distribute freely without restrictions.

• “Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price.

• Also known as “Libre software” or “Libre ware”.

Example

1)     Linux-libre ---- Linux-based operating system
2)     GNU Compiler Collection
3)     MySQL
4)     Apache web server

Freedoms in Free Software:

 Free software users have the four essential freedoms:
1)     The freedom to run the program (freedom 0).
2)     The freedom to study how the program works, and change it (freedom 1).
3)     The freedom to redistribute copies to others (freedom 2).
4)     The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3).

Advantages of Free Software:

1. Cost:  No initial cost for the software.
2. Customization: Users can modify the software to suit their specific needs.
3. Community Support: Has a strong community of developers to provide support.
4. Transparency: Source code is open for inspection.
5. Flexibility: Users have the freedom to use the software for any purpose.

Disadvantages of Free Software:

1. Quality: Quality control can vary leading to bugs.
2. Support: Official support may be limited.
3. Learning Curve: Requires technical expertise to understand and modify the software.
4. Fragmentation: It is challenging due to multiple versions.
5. Security Risks: It has security risks because anyone can access and modify the source code.