Freeware: a question of price
Freeware (software that is free of charge, or gratis) costs nothing to download. That is all the word guarantees. Its code can remain closed, in which case the publisher alone sets the rules: how many machines you can install it on, whether you may use it at work, and what will become of the software tomorrow.
Conversely, free software can be sold. Being free of charge is therefore neither necessary nor sufficient for a program to be free software: what matters are the rights its license gives you.
In English, “free” has two meanings. That is why the Free Software Foundation explains that free software is a matter of liberty, not price: think of “free” as in “free speech”, not as in “free beer”.
Free software: four freedoms for the user
The definition of free software is published by the Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985 by Richard Stallman. A program is free software if each of its users has four freedoms, numbered 0 to 3:
| Freedom | What it guarantees |
|---|---|
| 0 · Use | Run the program as you wish, for any purpose |
| 1 · Study | Understand how it works and adapt it to your needs, which requires access to the source code |
| 2 · Redistribute | Give away or sell copies of the program |
| 3 · Improve | Distribute your modified versions, so others can benefit |
Free software is first and foremost an ethical stance: keeping control over the computing you use, rather than handing it entirely to a publisher.
Open source: the same idea, from a different angle
The term “open source” appeared in 1998, with the founding of the Open Source Initiative (OSI). Its definition has ten criteria, including free redistribution, access to the source code, the right to create derived works and no discrimination against persons or fields of activity.
In practice, almost every license approved by the OSI is also considered free by the FSF, and vice versa. The difference lies mainly in intent: the free software movement puts users’ freedom first, while the open source movement highlights the benefits of open development, such as quality, collaboration and transparency.
Code that is merely visible is not enough. Published under a license that forbids modifying or redistributing it, it is neither free software nor open source. It is the license, not simply publishing the code, that makes the difference.
Copyleft or permissive license
Free software licenses fall into two broad families, depending on what they require from those who redistribute the software.
| Copyleft | Permissive | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | GNU GPL, LGPL, AGPL | MIT, BSD, Apache 2.0 |
| A modified version… | must stay under the same license, with its code | can be released under any license, even a closed one |
| Reuse in closed software | No (the LGPL does, however, let closed software use a library) | Yes |
| What it protects | The freedoms of all future users | The freedom to reuse the code without restrictions |
Copyleft turns copyright around: instead of being used to restrict copying, it guarantees that the software and its derivatives remain free.
What about RustMusic?
RustMusic is released under the GNU GPL v3 license. It is therefore free software, open source and copyleft, and on top of that free of charge:
- Free software: you can use, study, modify and redistribute it.
- Open source: its code is public on GitHub, under an OSI-approved license.
- Copyleft: a modified and redistributed version must stay under the GPL, with its code public. RustMusic cannot be absorbed into closed software.
- Free of charge: no subscription, no paid version, no ads.
The GPL v3 dates from 2007. Compared with version 2, it notably adds protection against software patents, and requires providing what is needed to install a modified version on a consumer device.
Frequently asked questions
Can free software cost money?
Yes. The GPL allows selling copies, provided you supply the source code and pass the same freedoms on to the buyer. Many free software programs are nonetheless free of charge, like RustMusic.
Are free software and public domain the same thing?
No. The author of free software keeps their copyright: that is what allows them to set the license terms, such as the copyleft requirement. A public domain work is no longer protected by copyright.
How can I tell whether a program is free software?
Look at its license, often in a LICENSE or COPYING file, or in the “About” window. The FSF and OSI license lists let you check it. Code visible on GitHub is not enough: without a free license, you have no right to reuse it.
Is free software more secure?
Not automatically: quality depends on the care put into the code. But public code can be examined by anyone, and a problem that is found can be fixed by people other than its author.
Can GPL software be used in a business?
Yes. Freedom 0 covers any use, including professional use. The GPL’s obligations only apply if you redistribute the software.
Try a free software music player
RustMusic is free software, free of charge and licensed under GPL v3: bit-perfect playback, native DSD, DLNA server, on Windows, macOS and Linux.