Free for Freedom
Posted on April 29, 2008
The term “free software” associated with programs such as Linux immediately connotes the absence of monetary cost which may be true in one aspect. More importantly though, free refers to the freedom given with its use.
Users are free to run the program for any purpose. They are free to study how the program works and adapt it to their specific needs. The freedom to redistribute copies to help others is also provided while the freedom to improve the program and release such improvements to the public ensures that the whole community benefit from it. A program can only be considered free software if these freedoms are afforded to the users irrevocably as long as they do nothing wrong.
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