Free/Libre/Open-Source Software
From Freepedia
The phrase Free/Libre/Open-Source Software, or FLOSS, (see also the similarly derived FOSS) is an inclusive term designed to be neutral when refering to both free software and open source software.
Often both free software and open software can refer to the same program or source code, but each term represents a differing emphasis on the importance of freedom (free software) or technical progress (open source software).
Contents |
Usage of the term
The term FLOSS is often used to bridge the ideological divide between the free software and open source software movements. The term FLOSS is useful for those who, for a variety of reasons, do not want to align themselves with one group and alienate the other. FLOSS can also be used as a neutral term when discussing free / open source software with those of differing ideological viewpoints.
Free software
See article: Free software
The term free software preceded the term open source software. Software and code was often freely traded among hackers but in the 1980s owners starting asserting copyright over their code effectively closing off this free exchange. The advent of the free software movement and the term free software was created by Richard Stallman in response to the closing off of this exchange.
Open source software
See article: Open source software
Some members of the free software community were unhappy with the name "free software". One problem was that the term 'free' in the english language is ambiguous and can mean 'gratis' or also 'freedom'. Second, the talking of freedom associated the software with idealism. Some felt that highlighting the technical superiority of the software's development model would accelerate adoption. (see The Cathedral and the Bazaar).
The phrase "Open Source" was devised in February 1998 with the explicit intent of replacing the historically earlier phrase "Free Software," which Open Source advocates felt was impeding acceptance by the business community.
The phrase "Open Source" was quickly and enthusiastically embraced both by many developers and by the majority of the English-speaking press. However, it was unequivocally rejected by Richard Stallman, the founder of the Free Software movement.
Stallman's rejection of the open source term is based in large part on deeply held differences in philosophy and the promotion of freedom above technical progress. For the Free Software Foundation freedom is of paramount concern and all other concerns come secondary. Since the Free Software Foundation will not compromise when it comes to freedom any term which does not emphasize freedom is also similarly rejected.
History of the term
Historically, FLOSS was first used as a project acronym by Rishab Aiyer Ghosh. In 2001 the European Commission (EC) used the phrase when they funded a study on the topic, and in July 2002 they further popularised the acronym by publishing both a FLOSS survey and study and a FLOSS workshop report. The EC chose FLOSS as an inclusive acronym that hopefully would not further antagonize the main participants in the naming controversy. Although neither side has shown much enthusiasm for FLOSS or any other all inclusive phrase, Richard Stallman has acknowledged and recommended use of the phrase Free/Libre/Open Source Software by those who refuse to commit themselves explicity to his philosophical approach.
In constructing the FLOSS phrase, the French/Spanish word libre was included to emphasize the "freedom from entanglements" meaning of the English word free, as opposed to the unintended (but frequently assumed) "pay no money" meaning. The similarly derived acronym FOSS avoids using libre not because of any disagreement with this clarification, but to avoid collision with the English word "floss".
The FLOSS acronym translates readily into other European languages, with for example the "F" representing free (English) or frei (German), and the "L" representing libre (Spanish or French), livre (Portuguese), or libero (Italian). By the end of 2004, the FLOSS acronym has been used in official English documents issued by South Africa, Spain, and Brazil. The FLOSS acronym is not used in official Spanish and Portuguese documents, since in these languages the unambiguious words libre and livre suffice.
See also
External links
- FLOSSWorld - Free/Libre/Open-Source Software: Worldwide impact study, to find out more about the recently announced European Union funded study.
- Free/Libre and Open Source Software: Survey and Study FLOSS Workshop report, links to full study.
- Please read original The Lifecycle of Software Technology) to find more.
- Free as in Education. Significance of the Free/Libre and Open Source Software for Developing Countries.
- Information for development www.i4donline.net
- FOSS primers at International Open Source Network (IOSN) by UNDP
- FOSS examples and adoption in countries
