when is OSS not FS and vv

stabu · 07-05-2005, 03:49 PM

Basically. that's the question when is software Open SOurc and not Free? When is free software not open source?

Any thoughts?

Padma · 07-05-2005, 04:00 PM

Quick rule of thumb: If it's not GPL, it's not "FREE".

stabu · 07-05-2005, 04:21 PM

so does that mean that everything that's GPL is free? Or "FREE" as you put it?

makuyl · 07-05-2005, 04:37 PM

No. You can sell software made under GPL, but IIRC you have to supply source code if customers request it.

Matir · 07-05-2005, 04:39 PM

Lots of software can be beer-free without being OSS.

All OSS software is speech-free, and most of it is beer-free. And, of course, if it's OSS, you can redistribute it once you've got it, so like 200 people could chip in for the first copy of the software.

Check out these licenses: http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/index_html

Padma: so... LGPL is not free? MIT? BSD?

craigevil · 07-05-2005, 04:47 PM

"The Open Source Definition"
http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php

"The Free Software Definition"
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html

"Various Licenses and Comments about Them"
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/license-list.html

"What Does Free Mean? or What do you mean by Free Software?"
http://www.debian.org/intro/free

"The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG)"
http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines

If in doubt read the definitions and take a look at the "free" licenses.
I think I have maybe a handful of programs that are not considered OSS or 'free'. Mainly Java, Flash, Real Player, Adobe and Firefox.

Padma · 07-05-2005, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matir
Padma: so... LGPL is not free? MIT? BSD?

Well, the LGPL is of course, free. It is the "Lesser" GPL.

the so-called "MIT" license is also free. The *original* BSD license is *NOT* free (in that it allows others to steal your work).

The Free Software Foundation links on licenses is very good.

My only point was that, for a rule of thumb, if it's not GPL, it is *probably* not free (as in speech). MOST OSS licenses are not fully free.

stimpsonjcat · 07-06-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

for a rule of thumb, if it's not GPL, it is *probably* not free (as in speech). MOST OSS licenses are not fully free.

I disagree. almost all open source licenses are free. the only exception I can remember was the Apple Public Source License < version 2 because it didn't allow for private modifications (it was open source but not free). the GPL is the most widely used free (AND open source) software license but there are dozens of other free software licenses. some are compatible with the GPL (this means you can combine code released under that license with GPL-ed code) and some are not (while still being free!). so if you're not sure whether a license is free or not it is best to check with the FSF's or OSI's lists of approved licenses. you won't find many licenses that are OSI approved but not free.