Free Software

free software
 n.

   As defined by Richard M. Stallman and used by the Free Software
   movement, this means software that gives users enough freedom to be
   used by the free software community. Specifically, users must be free
   to modify the software for their private use, and free to redistribute
   it either with or without modifications, either commercially or
   noncommercially, either gratis or charging a distribution fee. Free
   software has existed since the dawn of computing; Free Software as a
   movement began in 1984 with the GNU Project.

   RMS observes that the English word "free" can refer either to liberty
   (where it means the same as the Spanish or French "libre") or to price
   (where it means the same as the Spanish "gratis" or French "gratuit").
   RMS and other people associated with the FSF like to explain the word
   "free" in "free software" by saying "Free as in speech, not as in
   beer."

   See also {open source}. Hard-core proponents of the term "free
   software" sometimes reject this newer term, claiming that the style of
   argument associated with it ignores or downplays the moral imperative
   at the heart of free software.
    

free software
FOSS
free open-source software

   <software> Software that everyone is free to copy,
   redistribute and modify.  That implies free software must be
   available as {source code}, hence "free open source software"
   - "FOSS".  It is usually also free of charge, though anyone
   can sell free software so long as they don't impose any new
   restrictions on its redistribution or use.  The widespread
   acceptance of this definition and free software itself owes a
   great deal to {Richard Stallman} and the {Free Software
   Foundation}.

   There are many other kinds of "free software" in the sense of
   "free of charge".  See "{-ware}".

   {This dictionary} is free in both senses, though since it is
   documentation not {software} it is distributed under the
   {GFDL}.

   (2007-02-09)