Comments on: What is “Free Software”? http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/09/what-is-free-software/ Free Software at the cutting edge Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:57:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Guy Johnston http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/09/what-is-free-software/#comment-17 Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:45:31 +0000 http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/09/what-is-free-software/#comment-17 Hi, I think you've misunderstood what the GPL means about distributing source code. As far as I know, instead of having to give out source code at no cost, you have to supply it to anyone who you give or sell an executable copy to, or you have to give them a written offer to supply them with it at a later date. Otherwise, this would be prohibiting commercial distribution in a very significant way. Also, I think you should include a mention of the freedom to make copies and share them with other people in the summary of the essence of free software. This is a very important freedom, and I've come across at least one speech where Richard Stallman has said it's the most important of them all. Hi, I think you’ve misunderstood what the GPL means about distributing source code. As far as I know, instead of having to give out source code at no cost, you have to supply it to anyone who you give or sell an executable copy to, or you have to give them a written offer to supply them with it at a later date. Otherwise, this would be prohibiting commercial distribution in a very significant way.

Also, I think you should include a mention of the freedom to make copies and share them with other people in the summary of the essence of free software. This is a very important freedom, and I’ve come across at least one speech where Richard Stallman has said it’s the most important of them all.

]]> by: mjkaye http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/09/what-is-free-software/#comment-16 Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:59:45 +0000 http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/09/what-is-free-software/#comment-16 Thanks Jeremy. :-) You may want to start with the <a href="http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/category/interviews/" rel="nofollow">interviews category</a>. They have been very popular. You may also be interested in the <a href="http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/category/gnulinux/gnewsense/" rel="nofollow">gNewSense category</a>. <a href="http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/an-ubuntu-gnewsense/" rel="nofollow">gNewSense</a> is a GNU/Linux distribution that only includes completely Free Software. Admirably, they've also taken out the binary-blob drivers from the kernel. As for the future, I'm planning a series on the importance of Free Software web applications, such as web mail (see "<a href="http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/12/01/ippimail-free-software-web-mail-with-a-feel-good-factor/" rel="nofollow">ippimail: Free Software web-mail with a feel-good factor</a>") and web search. I expect to talk a lot about the problem of creating a competitive (hosted) Free Software search engine. I also intend to do a series on hardware that works well with Free Software - I think this is particularly relevant with the release of gNewSense -, and another on "Why Free Software?". I hope you like the new stuff as much as this one. :-) Thanks Jeremy. :-)

You may want to start with the interviews category. They have been very popular.

You may also be interested in the gNewSense category. gNewSense is a GNU/Linux distribution that only includes completely Free Software. Admirably, they’ve also taken out the binary-blob drivers from the kernel.

As for the future, I’m planning a series on the importance of Free Software web applications, such as web mail (see “ippimail: Free Software web-mail with a feel-good factor“) and web search. I expect to talk a lot about the problem of creating a competitive (hosted) Free Software search engine. I also intend to do a series on hardware that works well with Free Software - I think this is particularly relevant with the release of gNewSense -, and another on “Why Free Software?”.

I hope you like the new stuff as much as this one. :-)

]]> by: Jeremy Jones http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/09/what-is-free-software/#comment-15 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:39:31 +0000 http://cuttingfree.blogsome.com/2006/11/09/what-is-free-software/#comment-15 This is a great article. I am new to your blog and i like what I see. I look forward to your future work. This is a great article. I am new to your blog and i like what I see. I look forward to your future work.

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