Free vs. Open Source
Note on terminology: A heated holy war has erupted over the use of the phrase "open source software" vs "free software." Both terms refer to software that meets the Debian Social Contract. In brief, "free" or "open source" software" is software that the user is free to use, copy, modify, and distribute. Examples include the Gnu/Linux operating system, the Apache web server, and the Perl language.
The phrase "free software" has a longer history, going back to 1983, when Richard Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation. The conflict stems from the fact that the English language word 'free' can mean 'free', as in 'free speech' or 'free', as in 'free beer'. The problem doesn't exist in the French language, for example, which uses the word 'libré' and 'gratis" to refer to the two different senses of the word 'free.' Although the Free Software Foundation has emphasized that they meant 'free', as in 'free speech', some within the free software community felt that the word "free" was too ambiguous, and needlessly alienated the business community. Chris Peterson of the Foresight Institute is generally credited with coining the phrase phrase "open source". It has been promoted by Eric Raymond and Bruce Perens. The phrase has enjoyed widespread success. However, Richard Stallman and his supporters believe that the phrase "open source" deemphasizes the point of "free software", the freedom to alter and distribute the code, and encourage the use of the phrase 'free software'. To avoid alienating either party, I will use the French word "libré" instead of "open source" or "free", as the word is unambiguous, and acceptable to both communities of programmers.
Note on terminology: A heated holy war has erupted over the use of the phrase "open source software" vs "free software." Both terms refer to software that meets the Debian Social Contract. In brief, "free" or "open source" software" is software that the user is free to use, copy, modify, and distribute. Examples include the Gnu/Linux operating system, the Apache web server, and the Perl language.
The phrase "free software" has a longer history, going back to 1983, when Richard Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation. The conflict stems from the fact that the English language word 'free' can mean 'free', as in 'free speech' or 'free', as in 'free beer'. The problem doesn't exist in the French language, for example, which uses the word 'libré' and 'gratis" to refer to the two different senses of the word 'free.' Although the Free Software Foundation has emphasized that they meant 'free', as in 'free speech', some within the free software community felt that the word "free" was too ambiguous, and needlessly alienated the business community. Chris Peterson of the Foresight Institute is generally credited with coining the phrase phrase "open source". It has been promoted by Eric Raymond and Bruce Perens. The phrase has enjoyed widespread success. However, Richard Stallman and his supporters believe that the phrase "open source" deemphasizes the point of "free software", the freedom to alter and distribute the code, and encourage the use of the phrase 'free software'. To avoid alienating either party, I will use the French word "libré" instead of "open source" or "free", as the word is unambiguous, and acceptable to both communities of programmers.
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