LonnieOlson

I just finished reading this mostly great aricle at “OnLamp.com.”:http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2005/09/29/what-is-free-software.html?page=3 It has a great explanation of the Free Software movement from it’s humble beginnings, to the now exploded popularity. It also discusses the difference between the two camps, _Free_ vs. _Open Souce_. I personally feel _Free_ Software is the correct term, and philosophy. The “Open Source definition”:http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php has been polluted with item number 4 which opens a door down a hallway of further loss of freedom. It is also full of all kinds of other crap that probably doesn’t need to be there. I enjoy the simplistic “FSF definition”:http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html of Free Software.

* Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
* Freedom 1: The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
* Freedom 2: The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.
* Freedom 3: The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.