3 ms·
The word "free" on its own is ambiguous, but in the phrase "free software", this is the single unambiguous definition: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en
by josephcsible 2y ago
The word "free" on its own is ambiguous, but in the phrase "free software", this is the single unambiguous definition: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html
If it's just free in price, then "freeware" is the correct term.
- Ekaros 2y agoSome one gave me a disc with software on it for free. To me that sounds like free software I received. Even if the code is entirely proprietary. Or I download something like Irfanview for free from internet. That for consumer is free software to use... It is clearly bad term when it can be used to mean entirely different thing in regular and common use.
- goku12 2y agoThat's entirely the fault of the English language. The same term when translated into many other languages (including my first language) creates no such confusion - because they have different words for free as in free beer and free as in free speech. The point here is that that linguistic peculiarity in just one language doesn't make the word 'free software' invalid or unsuitable, as long as 'free software' is a recognizable term (which it is). This is why FSF makes this explicitly clear with an entire article.