4 ms·

My understanding is that "you can see the source code" is typically labeled "source available". "Don't have to pay for the binary" is sometimes "free as in beer

by mook 3y ago

My understanding is that "you can see the source code" is typically labeled "source available". "Don't have to pay for the binary" is sometimes "free as in beer", or if you're using floppy disks, "freeware" (though that term seems to have fallen out of use).

LordDragonfang 3y ago
>typically labeled "source available" I have literally only seen Free Software folks claiming this in similar discussions to this, and have not once seen that term used in practice (I'm sure you can find at least one example, but it's far from being common). The typical term for this is still "open source" whether it technically conforms to the OSI definition or not.
- ilyt 3y ago
  Yes, the people who created invented what open source is are the folks claiming that, how bizzare /s And corporations that try to get some free marketing and code I guess. The term is clear - lack of limitations of usage for the code makes it open source. If you put any limitations, whether noncommercial, "not for evil" etc. it stops being open. It's not hard. If you close a door, it's not open anymore.
  - LordDragonfang 3y ago
    > lack of limitations of usage for the code makes it open source. Except the GPL has a huge limitation (can only be used in GPL code) which "closes the door" to a lot of uses, and yet it's the gold standard.
- palata 3y ago
  > The typical term for this is still "open source" whether it technically conforms to the OSI definition or not. Well, the typical term coming from people who don't understand the terms. That's why there is a need to explain them, repeatedly.