Free software
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What is free software? Weblio dictionary
Software that allows free and unrestricted use, but does not waive intellectual property rights software.
Provided through the internet and other means.
Free software
Also known as FLOSS.
Shareware
Public domain software
Proprietary software.
Free Software Foundation
What is Free Software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
What is free software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
"Free software means respecting users' freedom and community. Roughly speaking, it means that users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, modify and improve the software as they wish."
Four basic freedoms
A program is free software if its users have the four essential freedoms:
The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others (freedom 2).
The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.