DRAFT FAQ: Free vs. Open

[Ernest Prabhakar]

Hi Charlie,

On Jan 9, 2008, at 3:00 PM, Charlie Poole wrote:
> Within the scope and level at which you are approaching this,
> I think it's a pretty good shot. I think it's the right level
> for this sort of thing as well.

Thanks!

> One point that might be added is that the "free software" perspective
> seems to prefer certain free licenses over others on philosophical  
> grounds.
> While folks more aligned to "open source" may have individual  
> preferences,
> there is no systematic leaning in favor of particular open source  
> licenses.

Hmm, maybe.  I added a link to the FSF's "copyleft" page:
> Philosophically, the term "free software" is often associated with  
> an ideological position on how software should be available (cf.  
> copyleft licensing), whereas "open source" more commonly reflects a  
> pragmatic concern regarding how software should be developed.  
> However, this may or may not matter to a particular speaker, so be  
> cautious about reading too much into the distinction.
>

How's that look?

-- Ernie P.

>
>
> Charlie
>
>> DRAFT 1
>> It depends. Much of the time, the two phrases can be used
>> interchangeably, but sometimes they indicate significantly
>> different perspectives.
>>
>> Strictly speaking, the term free software is traditionally
>> used by the Free Software Foundation to refer to software
>> whose license conforms to their list of four freedoms, as
>> opposed "open source" licenses which conform to the Open
>> Source Definition. In practice, however, virtually all open
>> source licenses also qualify as free software licenses, and
>> vice versa, so many individuals use the terms interchangeably
>> -- or conjoined, as in the somewhat awkward phrase 
>> Free/Libre/Open Source Software (FLOSS).
>>
>> Philosophically, the term "free software" is often associated
>> with an ideological position on how software should be
>> available, whereas "open source" more commonly reflects a
>> pragmatic concern regarding how software should be developed.
>> However, this may or may not matter to a particular speaker,
>> so be cautious about reading too much into the distinction.
>
>> Note that in this context "free" always means "libre" (as in free
>> speech) rather than "gratis" (as in free beer).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>