Freeware is software that is provided gratis i.e. without cost, but without source or the freedoms like modification and redistributing those modifications. Show If freeware is being actively distributed by its authors, do users have the right to reproduce and redistribute without changes? For example, do software download websites have the right to host/mirror freeware downloads, or is this done with permission from the authors (whether implicit or explicit)? If the author wishes to cease distribution, are they within their rights to ask redistributors to also cease? By contrast, free/open licenses grant the irrevocable right to redistribution. Even non-free licenses like CC-BY-ND still allow redistribution, provided that no modifications or derivations are made. Without such a license, is redistribution still allowed? asked Jun 30, 2015 at 13:03
 congusbonguscongusbongus 8,58330 silver badges76 bronze badges 5 The term "Freeware" is not well-defined. Some authors are OK with people redistributing their work unchanged, others are not. Check the license restrictions of the work in question. Possible reasons why authors would not want people to redistribute their software:
answered Jun 30, 2015 at 16:02
PhilippPhilipp 11.4k2 gold badges29 silver badges50 bronze badges As freeware never got defined as a term like free software or open source. The common usage always includes that it is free of charge. That doesn't include that it can be downloaded from somewhere else except the "official" sources. So it depends on the product in question, how it turns out. But in practice, I cannot name one case (but Stephen Kitt can, look at the comments), in which redistribution for free is restricted. I would look for the license or a statement of the author in any case before mirroring, just to be on the safe side. answered Jun 30, 2015 at 13:19
MnementhMnementh 10.9k2 gold badges32 silver badges77 bronze badges 2 It’s all about freedom. Source: http://gnu.ist.utl.pt/graphics/gnublue.png Contributing to open-source projects is fun. Advancing the cause of Free software is even more fun for some of us as the freedom of software users is a matter of ethics and values for which we feel rather strongly and actively promote. In authoring open-source projects, we may use one of many Free software licences like the GNU GPL-3.0 licence and explicitly show the copyleft symbol [🄯] despite the… In the software development industry, technical terms are often dropped here and there. While some people unknowingly use them interchangeably, some confuse their meanings altogether. Free software, open source, freeware, and shareware are some of the most commonly confused software terms in the industry. Kuzzmi, who has more than eight years of experience in the software development industry and currently teaches people how to build powerful web-based applications, says that “understanding the difference between the technical terminologies is important for making the right decisions when building your tech products.” In this article, I’ll talk about the main differences between these terms. Let me make this clear beforehand: the word 'free' in 'free software' emphasizes freedom, not price. That’s why, to avoid the ambiguity in the English language, sometimes free software is called libre software. According to the Free Software Foundation (FSF), a non-profit organization that supports the development of free software, “free software is the software that grants the user the freedom to share, study, and modify it.” The FSF coined the term in the 1980s. This type of software allows you to do anything you want with it, even improving the version and profiting from it. The FSF asserts that a free software must adhere to the following four pillars of freedom (which are rights and not obligations):
The FSF emphasizes that free software is not limited to non-commercial use. A commercial program can allow users to indirectly access the above freedoms. Additionally, as opposed to freeware, free software allows users to access the source code (because of the freedom to modify). Any free software license should give users the ability to benefit from the four pillars of freedom. These licenses can either be protective (copyleft) licenses or non-protective licenses. Whereas the former upholds the rights to use, study, distribute, and modify the software, the latter allows for distribution with those rights scrapped off. Here are three of the most popular type of licenses that define free software:
A popular example of a free software that is completely freedom-respecting is the Linux operating system. An example of a distribution of a Linux package is Debian. Open Source SoftwareOpen source software has a close meaning to free software, although the two terms are not identical. Although both terminologies refer to a similar group of licenses and software, each term alludes to different underlying ideologies. The Open Source Initiative (OSI), the non-profit organization that supports the development of open source software, asserts that any open source software must adhere to the following criteria:
Historically, the term free software came before open source. Although both terms have roots in supporting the idea of free software (right to use, study, share, and modify), their objectives and philosophies are different. The term open source was introduced in the late 1990s in response to the limitations of free software. In fact, the OSI says that it coined the term to “educate and advocate for the superiority of an open development process.” The organization adds that the term provides “a valuable way to engage with potential software users and developers, and convince them to create and improve source code by participating in an engaged community.” Therefore, the term open source emphasizes on the practical benefits of “free software”: supporting collaboration on software development projects. In other words, while open source is a development philosophy that is more business oriented, free software is a social and moral philosophy. That’s why the term open source is more palatable to the corporate world because it places less emphasis on freedom. For example, while the Android mobile operating system is an open source software, it cannot be referred to as a free software because it does not respect all four pillars of freedom. To minimize misunderstandings and avoid the terminology debate between free software and open source software, other terms such as FOSS (free and open source software) and FLOSS (free, libre, and open source software) may be used to describe the concepts. FreewareTypically, freeware refers to a software that you can use without incurring any costs. Unlike open source software and free software, freeware offers minimal freedom to the end user. Whereas it can be used free of charge, often modification, redistribution, or other improvements cannot be done without getting permission from the author. As such, freeware is often shared without including its source code, which is atypical to open source software or free software. Two of the most common types of freeware are Skype and Adobe Acrobat Reader. While both programs are free to use, their source codes are unavailable to the public. Most developers usually market freeware as freemium or shareware with the intention of encouraging users to buy a more capable version. Freemium refers to a program that is offered at no cost, but money (premium) is paid for extra, more capable features. Shareware refers to a program that is initially available without any costs attached, and users are encouraged to distribute copies. However, that cost-free period usually lasts for a certain period; thereafter, a user is required to pay for continued use. ConclusionSo, the next time you build your tech product — whether it’s a mobile game, a cryptocurrency trading bot, or a website — ensure that you use the right terminology to describe it. For example, if you want to release your created program freely to the open source community, ensure you do sufficient research to understand the limitations and responsibilities of the licensing you select. Which term are you going to use to describe your next software? Please provide your comment below. Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own. Can free software be modified?Free software is software that gives you the user the freedom to share, study and modify it.
Can free software be distributed?Free programs are sometimes distributed gratis, and sometimes for a substantial price. Often the same program is available in both ways from different places.
Is free software and open source can be used interchangeably?The terms “free software” and “open-source software” are interchangeable for most contexts, and whether someone prefers one over the other usually comes down to a matter of semantics or their philosophical outlook.
What do you call the software that is distributed free?Shareware is commercial software that is distributed free to users, eventually either requiring or encouraging users to pay for the continued support of the software.
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