Open Options | What does "free" really mean?

Open source is a new variation on an old idea: free software. This is a confusing term because "free" may refer to freedom or price. Open source proponents are more concerned with freedom. For a discussion of price see: "Total cost of ownership"

Richard Stallman and other proponents talk about free as in free speech, not free as in free beer. Stallman explains: "The English language... lacks a simple, unambiguous word that means 'free,' as in freedom -- 'unfettered' being the word that comes closest in meaning." (Stallman, in Dibona, p. 57) Stallman argues that restrictive end-user licenses are fetters. Thus, software is free as in free speech when the user can do anything they want with it. So "free" means independence, something schools may appreciate.

Brief history of open source... Stallman's ideas are too radical and controversial for many people. With the success of Linux and the growth of the Internet, other proponents created the open source model. Open source is more moderate and attractive to software companies.

Compromises & licenses... Open source is a compromise between the rights of companies and users. The variety of licenses reflects this shifting balance.

Software is like a car... The philosophy and implications of open source are illustrated in this detailed analogy.

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This Web site was developed and maintained by the Northwest Educational Technology Consortium. The federal funding for the regional technology consortia program ended on September 30, 2005, and no further updates are planned unless additional funding becomes available. However, much of the content is still useful and NWREL will continue to provide access to this site to support educators and to meet its own technical assistance needs.