A Conversation for Open Source Software
Free as in speech, not as in beer....
Crescent Started conversation Apr 23, 2004
....a common quote describing open source software indicating that the 'free' mentioned is freedom from restrictions not the recommended retail price of the software. Or so I reckon anyhoo 
Until later....
BCNU - Crescent
Free as in speech, not as in beer....
Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired Posted Apr 23, 2004
Traveller in Time 
on his head
"I agree in what you say!
Free as in speech covers the freedom much better then free as in beer.
Though it did rhime better, anyone an 
or 
? "
Free as in speech, not as in beer....
xyroth Posted Apr 23, 2004
Although you only really have to say it in english.
most other languages refer to it as something like "software libre", where the libert aspect is obvious. it is just the multi-meaning nature of english which means it needed clarifying.
Free as in speech, not as in beer....
Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired Posted Apr 23, 2004
nipping from the tap
"I doubt that.
I will ignore other languages just for they will also give doubt as what is (to be) free about the software.
Free Software == Software not held in captivity
Free Software == Software not having a duty
Free Software == You pay for the medium and the work of 'printing' the information
Free Software == Software you can modify without violation of the licence
Free Software == Software of which you are able to know what it does
The 'free' in all languages refers to the freedom of the software, not being a liberation in literal sense, but more free as in free to use the concepts and the routines for any (be it legal) purpose and for a part in being just free to know what the software does (reading the source) anyway.
In most languages there will be no way to say just what it is in two words. In most languages the real meaning is underneat the surface (inbetween) of the words.
Perhaps it is meant as a nice quirk to start a discussion about the freedom?"
Free as in speech, not as in beer....
IMSoP - Safely transferred to the 5th (or 6th?) h2g2 login system Posted Apr 23, 2004
This is less deep than TiT's comment, but I've always wondered - whoever heard of free beer? I mean, why and not, say, 
, or 
- is it just to perk up the ears of 
s, in which case shouldn't it be 
? 
Free as in speech, not as in beer....
Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired Posted Apr 23, 2004
Traveller in Time on his head
"Yes, that sounds even better:
'Free Software' as in 'free <<./>coffee</.>> '
(So far this closed source part)
I vote for 'Free Software' as in 'free ' !
I guess some companies provided free beer on hot and or long days. (mine still does 
) A kind of free pizza if you are doing overtime. "
lurking on twohundredsixtyfive pipes
"Well, was it deep? It just comes straight from the heart, so probably inaccurate."
Key: Complain about this post
Free as in speech, not as in beer....
- 1: Crescent (Apr 23, 2004)
- 2: Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired (Apr 23, 2004)
- 3: xyroth (Apr 23, 2004)
- 4: Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired (Apr 23, 2004)
- 5: IMSoP - Safely transferred to the 5th (or 6th?) h2g2 login system (Apr 23, 2004)
- 6: Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired (Apr 23, 2004)
More Conversations for Open Source Software
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."