foss:open_source

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foss:open_source [2026/03/15 16:34] – [History] Simon Grantfoss:open_source [2026/04/20 19:42] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Free & open source software+This topic is part of [[gt:digital|Digital & media]]. 
 +====== Free & open source software ======
  
  
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 > "As our society grows more dependent on computers, the software we run is of critical importance to securing the future of a free society. Free software is about having control over the technology we use in our homes, schools and businesses, where computers work for our individual and communal benefit, not for proprietary software companies or governments who might seek to restrict and monitor us." - Free Software Foundation > "As our society grows more dependent on computers, the software we run is of critical importance to securing the future of a free society. Free software is about having control over the technology we use in our homes, schools and businesses, where computers work for our individual and communal benefit, not for proprietary software companies or governments who might seek to restrict and monitor us." - Free Software Foundation
  
-## What is free & open source software?+===== What is free & open source software? =====
  
 A lot more than software can be free / open source, but that’s what we’re focusing on here. Free & open source software (FOSS) is software that is free as in 'protecting your freedom'. Also, you're free to do what you like with it, so you can change it and pass it on to others. FOSS is the opposite of ‘closed source’, or proprietary software such as that produced by Microsoft or Apple, the code of which is not available for you to look at or modify, and you may be breaking the law if you do so. Richard Stallman wrote the [Four Freedoms](https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/basics/4freedoms.en.html) which include the rights to use, study, share and improve the software. A lot more than software can be free / open source, but that’s what we’re focusing on here. Free & open source software (FOSS) is software that is free as in 'protecting your freedom'. Also, you're free to do what you like with it, so you can change it and pass it on to others. FOSS is the opposite of ‘closed source’, or proprietary software such as that produced by Microsoft or Apple, the code of which is not available for you to look at or modify, and you may be breaking the law if you do so. Richard Stallman wrote the [Four Freedoms](https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/basics/4freedoms.en.html) which include the rights to use, study, share and improve the software.
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 Because it's free, if someone writes some code that does a specific job for them, it can be made available to someone else who can then amend it to do something different for them, and so on. The original software might have done something very basic and useful to just one person, but it can evolve into something very powerful and useful to a lot of people. It can benefit the original writer too, as it can still do the job it was first written for, but because of collaboration it has been improved - faults removed and functionality added. Because it's free, if someone writes some code that does a specific job for them, it can be made available to someone else who can then amend it to do something different for them, and so on. The original software might have done something very basic and useful to just one person, but it can evolve into something very powerful and useful to a lot of people. It can benefit the original writer too, as it can still do the job it was first written for, but because of collaboration it has been improved - faults removed and functionality added.
  
-Around 2% of the world's computers have an open source operating system (the free equivalent of MS Windows or Mac OS), but you can also run FOSS on a closed source operating system. Examples include Firefox (web browser), Thunderbird (email client), Libre Office (word processing, spreadsheets etc.), GIMP (image manipulation), MySQL (database) and VLC (media player) - and even the operating system itself (GNU/Linux).+Over 4% of the world's computers have an open source operating system (the free equivalent of MS Windows or Mac OS), but you can also run FOSS on a closed source operating system. Examples include Firefox (web browser), Thunderbird (email client), Libre Office (word processing, spreadsheets etc.), GIMP (image manipulation), MySQL (database) and VLC (media player) - and even the operating system itself (GNU/Linux).
  
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-### History+ 
 +==== History ====
  
 In 1983, [Richard Stallman](https://stallman.org/) launched the GNU free software project, on which many people could collaborate, and in 1985 he founded the [Free Software Foundation](http://www.fsf.org/), to promote and assist the development of free software. In 1983, [Richard Stallman](https://stallman.org/) launched the GNU free software project, on which many people could collaborate, and in 1985 he founded the [Free Software Foundation](http://www.fsf.org/), to promote and assist the development of free software.
  
-In 1991, Linus Torvalds created the 'engine' for the first free / open source operating system called the Linux kernel. A kernel is the fundamental base of the code, like the engine of a car - you need a lot more than an engine to have a useful car, but it doesn't work without the engine. Also in the 90s, Richard Stallman was developing a free operating system that needed a kernel. He used the Linux kernel and the GNU/Linux operating system was born. It's often referred to as just Linux, but the correct term is the GNU/Linux operating system.+In 1991, Linus Torvalds created the 'engine' for the first free / open source operating system called the Linux kernel. A kernel is the fundamental base of the code, like the engine of a car - you need a lot more than an engine to have a useful car, but it doesn't work without the engine. Also in the 90s, Richard Stallman was developing a free operating system that needed a kernel. He used the Linux kernel and the GNU/Linux operating system was born. It's usually referred to as just Linux, [[wp>GNU/Linux_naming_controversy|but some argue]] that the correct term is the GNU/Linux operating system.
  
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-## What are the benefits of free & open source software?+===== What are the benefits of free & open source software? =====
  
 - The free software movement mean 'free' as in 'free speech' rather than in 'free beer' - so 'liberty' rather than 'gratis' (however, it can be also free as in gratis or it may have a price set by the modifier). - The free software movement mean 'free' as in 'free speech' rather than in 'free beer' - so 'liberty' rather than 'gratis' (however, it can be also free as in gratis or it may have a price set by the modifier).
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Software+==== Software ====
  
 You can do pretty much anything with free software that you can do with proprietary software. With some software you will hardly notice the difference - others will present you with a bit of a learning curve. Try some alternatives from the directories below (see further resources), download, install and play with them to see how simple they are - and they'll all run on a proprietary operating system. You won't want to pay for software again. You can do pretty much anything with free software that you can do with proprietary software. With some software you will hardly notice the difference - others will present you with a bit of a learning curve. Try some alternatives from the directories below (see further resources), download, install and play with them to see how simple they are - and they'll all run on a proprietary operating system. You won't want to pay for software again.
  
-### Support+==== Support ====
  
 You can get support for free software via online forums for that particular software. Just put the name of the software and your question into a search engine and you'll get most of your questions answered - the forums are community-based and free. You can also purchase support if you'd like a bit more peace of mind. You can get support for free software via online forums for that particular software. Just put the name of the software and your question into a search engine and you'll get most of your questions answered - the forums are community-based and free. You can also purchase support if you'd like a bit more peace of mind.
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-### Operating system+==== Operating system ====
  
 When it comes to changing your operating system, if you're at all technical, you can just search online, find GNU/Linux and install it on your computer. There are lots of distributor websites from which to download it. This next bit may or may not be obvious to you, but after you've downloaded it, you'll have it on your computer, but you will still have a proprietary operating system - so it will have to be transferred to a CD or pen drive for example, to be installed. Then (and here's another benefit) you can try it before you decide to go for it. You can run Linux directly from an external drive and 'try before you (don't) buy'. When it comes to changing your operating system, if you're at all technical, you can just search online, find GNU/Linux and install it on your computer. There are lots of distributor websites from which to download it. This next bit may or may not be obvious to you, but after you've downloaded it, you'll have it on your computer, but you will still have a proprietary operating system - so it will have to be transferred to a CD or pen drive for example, to be installed. Then (and here's another benefit) you can try it before you decide to go for it. You can run Linux directly from an external drive and 'try before you (don't) buy'.
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-### Spread the word+==== Spread the word ====
  
 One very important thing you can do is to learn how to install and use it, and then teach others; and also to promote it, blog about it, spread it via social media etc.  One very important thing you can do is to learn how to install and use it, and then teach others; and also to promote it, blog about it, spread it via social media etc. 
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 Introduce your kids to free software (actually, they might introduce it to you) – get them to talk to their teachers about using and learning about free software in their school – it’s much better for helping them learn to code, as the code isn’t secret! Large corporations are infiltrating schools, so get your kids to nag their teachers to provide information on free software. Introduce your kids to free software (actually, they might introduce it to you) – get them to talk to their teachers about using and learning about free software in their school – it’s much better for helping them learn to code, as the code isn’t secret! Large corporations are infiltrating schools, so get your kids to nag their teachers to provide information on free software.
  
-### Other+==== Other ====
  
 One thing to note - yes, free software can have no cost, but anyone is welcome to sell it. Say you modify and package up some free software utility programs and put them on a disc - you may sell that package. You must however give the source code back to the community for no cost. One thing to note - yes, free software can have no cost, but anyone is welcome to sell it. Say you modify and package up some free software utility programs and put them on a disc - you may sell that package. You must however give the source code back to the community for no cost.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:digital|Digital & media]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/digital). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [switching.software](https://switching.software/) is a grassroots website, that is trying to let people know about ethical and easy-to-use alternatives to well-known websites, apps and other software. - [switching.software](https://switching.software/) is a grassroots website, that is trying to let people know about ethical and easy-to-use alternatives to well-known websites, apps and other software.
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [Blockchain](bloc:blockchain) - [Blockchain](bloc:blockchain)
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 - [Downshifting](down:downshifting) - [Downshifting](down:downshifting)
 - [Low-impact shopping](lish:shopping) - [Low-impact shopping](lish:shopping)
-- [Wikis](wiki:wikis) +- [Wikis](wiks:wikis) 
-- [Low-impact money](limo:money)+- [Collaborative finance](cofi:collaborative_finance)
 - [Platform co-ops](pltc:platform_co-ops) - [Platform co-ops](pltc:platform_co-ops)
  
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic +* [[user:asimong|Simon Grant]]
  
  • foss/open_source.1773592499.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/15 16:34
  • by Simon Grant