How to explain Free Software to people?

[mobrien_12]

I'm running into a problem lately.

People see the cool stuff I can do with Free software.  They would like me to teach them how to do it.  I show them Free software package X such as Cygwin or FireFox and say  "here's what I use and here's where you get it" and they sort of stare at me and ask "so it's shareware?"  

If I say "no it's GPL" they don't understand.  I dont want to say it's freeware, because that doesn't really explain it.  Free software doesn't mean free of charge... it's really about freedom of speech, and they can give the software to whoever the hell they want but must  make the source code available.... and I don't want them to think that it's public domain... but if I try to explain all that I know I'll lose them.

So any suggestions about how to explain Free Software in 4-5 sentences so that the person who has  never heard of it?  I might use the ideas on  my web page athttp://www.geocities.com/mobrien_12 )

[Lead Head]

I just tell people "Free software means its open source(it doesn't mean its free of charge though), that means people can take the program's  base code and change it however they want. This allows people to fix a big problem in the program, if there is one, and they can send how to fix it to other people or even the programs original creators"


Thats pretty much what I say

[Aloone_Jonez]

[nube]
What's open source? :confused:
Code base, what does that mean? :confused:
[/nube]

This is my explanation but it will still probably confuse the average nube.

Applications are normally written using a programming language like C which computer programmers can understand, this is called the source code and in order for the computer to be able run the program it needs to be converted to machine code (which is a binary format consisting of 0s and 1s) - only the computer can understand this. Because people can't read machine code companies like Apple and Microsoft have chosen to distribute their software in the binary format as it prevents people from figuring out how the program works, including the format it stores your data in when you save files. Companies can also lock you into using their software because competing programs can't read files created with thier software.

Free software is different, the GPL (General Public License) asks that you provide people accesss to the source code when you distribute the software, this means everyone has the freedom to, copy it, learn how it works and modify it. You might wonder how this effects you if you're not a programmer, there are many schools of thought on this, but most importantly it means you don't have to pay to use it (for any purpose) and companies can't lock you into using thier software as other programmers can figure out how it works write programs to read files saved by it.



By the way you can't force people to pay for open source software, unless you include a proprietary part but then it wouldn't be totally free would it?

[piratePenguin]

You could point them to:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

[Aloone_Jonez]

The problem is most nubes won't know about source code, machine code, compilers etc. I think Wikipedia is probably the best source since you can click on the words you don't understand to get the definitions.

[H_TeXMeX_H]

That's a tough one ... but the gnu page ^ (piratePenguin posted it) seems to be the clearest way to explain it ...

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

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

A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission.

[inane]

I pretty much explain it the way that aloone described... you'll be pleasantly surprised by how many people DO understand what you're saying.

[mobrien_12]

Well the links are really good, and I'll put them on my webpage.  

As for what to say in four or five sentences, based on your suggestions, what do you think about this:

Free software is licenced to be used by anyone.  Anyone can look at the source code.  Anyone can make changes to the program if they want to, but most Free software requires that those changes must also be Free software.  You can give away, or sell Free Software, but you must include source code and anyone who gets it also can sell it or give it away.  

?
If this gets them interested, I can give them more details, including the philosophy in a nutshell.

[Aloone_Jonez]

Still no good if they don't even know what source code means.

[toadlife]

Just say it's free. Not free-ware - just 'free'. People that don't even know what source code is aren't going to give a rats ass about source being avaiable or the license attached to it. Tell them it's free and later on maybe, with their new free browser you told them about, they might go out on the net and figure it out themselves.

Oh, and Firefox isn't licensed under the GPL.

[piratePenguin]

"If software was music, free software would be music you're free to change at your will and redistribute without having to give money to the original author. The music is 'free'", that might work. Might be helpful to explain, too, that modifying and studying software is much more exciting than modifying music.

[H_TeXMeX_H]

Maybe you can try for two definitions ... one for "less knowledgeable users" and one for people that know what source code is (more knowledgeable users). Just a thought.

Or maybe you could include a definition of source code ? then you'd only need one definition.

[inane]

Just say it's free. Not free-ware - just 'free'. People that don't even know what source code is aren't going to give a rats ass about source being avaiable or the license attached to it./QUOTE]

I think that as computers become a larger part of everyone's lives more and more people will become interested in the political motives behind the software they use so often. Not everyone and in fact NEVER everyone but any concerned or halfway intelligent person will want to know. I will agree with Toad here let em look it up if they like but come on throw them a bone, say the minimal though. You wouldn't want to scare them away.

[Pathos]

People develop free software for the same reason people build cars to break speed records, cause its fun. The difference is software can be copied at no cost and the developers share ideas by releasing the source as record breaker may share ideas by explaining how their design overcame obstacles that hindered predessors.

Source code is text that both humans can understand (unlike machine code) and computers can break down into machine code (unlike english). Computers are just advanced calculators. they seem intelligent when a intelligent computer programmer writes an intelligent program that works really well.