Wikipedia talk:Wikipedia Signpost/2008-03-13/Dispatches

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[edit] "Freeware"

Thanks for the article. I would like it if the author would refer to GIMP and Paint.NET as "free software programmes" instead of "freeware". Freeware is proprietary software distributed for free, while free software is distributed under a free license, usually at no cost. There a two instances in the article. Else it is a nice article. Longbow4u (talk) 10:58, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks to Sandy for changing the article accordingly. Freeware and Free Software can be used by the end user at no cost. The difference between the two is that only free software guarantees access to the source code, may be modified and distributed without restrictions. Freeware is distributed usually only in compiled form as binary code. Modifications require the explicit approval of the author. Since both of the programs mentioned in the text are Free Software, they should be called free software. This is important because it helps raise awareness to the cause of Free Software and the distinction between Gratis versus Libre. Free software in this case is libre software, freeware is "only" gratis software. The one person today who is explaining the difference best and the nature of free software is Richard Stallman. See for example his speech in Tunis about the nature of Free Software, Greetings, Longbow4u (talk) 22:11, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Richard Stallman about Free Software