Wikipedia: History of Free software movement

Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

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Free software, as a term, does not mean software that is without monetary cost. As defined by Richard Stallman, the phrase refers not to price, but to four basic freedoms:

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Members of the Free Software Movement believe these freedoms should apply to all software, as it is immoral to use force to prevent people from exercising these freedoms, or to provide software without providing the source. There is not consensus, however, how these aims should be met. Some believe that software should be freed through legislation; others through boycotts of proprietary software. Still others believe that time will tell, as free software will eventually be technically superior to proprietary software, and will win on the free market.

Members of the Free Software Movement believe these freedoms should apply to all software, believing it is immoral to use force to prevent people from exercising these freedoms, or to provide software without providing the source. There is no consensus, however, how these aims should be met. Some believe that software should be freed through legislation; others through boycotts of proprietary software. Still others believe that time will tell, as free software will eventually be technically superior to proprietary software, and will win on the free market.

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Supporters of Open Source fall into the latter camp, and argue for the pragmatic virtues of free software (aka "open source software") rather than questions of morality. Their basic disagreement with the Free Software Foundation is its condemnation of proprietary software. There are many programmers who enjoy supporting and using free software but make their livings developing proprietary software, and do not consider their actions immoral.

Supporters of Open Source argue for the pragmatic virtues of free software (aka "open source software") rather than questions of morality. Their basic disagreement with the Free Software Foundation is its blanket condemnation of proprietary software. There are many programmers who enjoy supporting and using free software but make their livings developing proprietary software, and do not consider their actions immoral.

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/Talk?

	Revision 13 . . (edit) October 27, 2001 1:51 am by The Cunctator
	Revision 12 . . September 4, 2001 11:19 am by Belltower [As written, it was somewhat contradictory]
	Revision 11 . . August 25, 2001 7:38 am by The Cunctator *[Dumped "Many"--that's pretty much the def. of the FSM]**