Forum Name : Open Source or Free Software

[firewall]

All "free" software is open source, but all open source software is not necessarily "free" software.

Well said a.m Why not let others know this. The Difference and defintions and above all the movement behind this. GNU/LINUX is not just a OS like others.. Its something more than that.

dditionally, at least 75% of the people here (and 90% of all) wouldn't know what exectly is "free" software.

Let them know the truth. They have a misconception , care to break that.

and the first step of that is renaming of this room.

 

[DKant]

^ Exactly.

 

[tuxfan]

Let them know the truth. They have a misconception , care to break that and the first step of that is renaming of this room.

No sir, it should not be renamed for three reasons.

First, this section is not about "free" software but also covered other OSS. That seems to be the intention of forum admins. Why restrict it only to freedomware?

Second, as I said, it will restrict itself only to "free" software. Where do the people using other OSS go? They will surely come in this section only without understanding the technicalities. So renaming doesn't serve any purpose.

Third, there will be lots of spam from people wanting to know about other freewares :roll: you can't sit explaining to everyone that this one is about freedomware and not freeware Mods will get tired moving those threads to the right section and will also get tired in explaining the reason

As for educating people, if we are so sure about it, lets request Digit to carry an article on the same in its mag or keep it online on its site. Alternatively, write and keep an article in laymen's terms in one of the sites that we have access to and post the link here in "General Discussion" :roll: That one seems to be the most visited section

 

[DKant]

..lets request Digit to carry an article on the same in its mag...

Yea, a separate section dedicated to freedomware in the mag would be good. Really good.

But I don't think it's gonna happen. At least not as long as Di9it is in 'expansion' mode.

 

[tuxfan]

The request is not for a separate section on freedomware. Its only about an article on freedomware and various available licences. So I don't think Digit should have any problem with that. Actually, they have a topic for their mag article and have to think about one topic less

 

[GNUrag]

Well as for the name goes, Its a very small number of applications which are legally OpenSource and not Free Software .. In percentage that might come out to be somewhere in 1% or maybe lesser.

Rest all software are legally Free Software and by their licensing they are GPL or MIT or BSD or some other Free License..., but their authors detest the term Free Software and prefer to use OpenSource instead.

So the point that naming the forum OpenSource because it covers both Free Software and OpenSource software is meaningless since there's hardly any software which is just OpenSource and not Free Software.

The term OpenSource is a marketting gimmik and we should understand it. By the defination of OpenSource, one does not get as much freedom and power of creativity as can be had with FreeSoftware term... (ps: i'm talking about the legal meaning of the two terms, in terms of their licensing)

If people do not know about the difference then they have to be told that. One needs to tell the difference between the licensing differences between them.

 

[klinux]

now its getting crazy lol . GNU u state that ones creativity limited with open source , but not with FREEDOM SOFTWARE (lets use this to distinguish it better) . But stallman started it all so that code could be and should be shared with others right ?? and based on open code , people can use their creative ideas and implement them ? so how do u say open source is hinderance to creativity ??? . another thing . i think if ur sticking to a name stick to FREEDOM s/w or FREEDOM Ware , koz i think thats they msg ur trying to bring out right ? , plus who said linux is free in monetary terms ????? u pay for the net connection to download huge files , u pay to buy mags to get the software even . so unless the linux/gnu/open source guys themselves , kome with a better and more convenient method to spread the real meaning of linux , stick to the old name .

regarding open source being small portion of the pie , arent most important parts of linux / gnu open source ??? should we look at percentage of open source or the usefulness of open source ???

 

[tuxfan]

Well as for the name goes, Its a very small number of applications which are legally OpenSource and not Free Software .. In percentage that might come out to be somewhere in 1% or maybe lesser.

..................

So the point that naming the forum OpenSource because it covers both Free Software and OpenSource software is meaningless since there's hardly any software which is just OpenSource and not Free Software.

Even if its only 1%, why exclude them?

Rest all software are legally Free Software and by their licensing they are GPL or MIT or BSD or some other Free License..., but their authors detest the term Free Software and prefer to use OpenSource instead.

.................

The term OpenSource is a marketting gimmik

Can you guess why they prefer to name it that way? I feel simply because the term "Open Source" is more popular and stays away from the confusion with FREEWARE. That is why I would prefer to let it remain as it is And you will surely agree that marketing is no longer just a gimmick. It surely does a lot for the products.

I will think about it from a different view. If just by calling these softwares as Open Source it become more attractive and more people adopt it, ultimately the free software movement is the gainer. We can continue with educating the people later.

I will take my own example. I was only aware of Linux being open source and "freeware" and got attracted to it. Later I was educated on the what actually is free software. Thanks to you, Nagarjun and Firewall So we can keep that education for a later date, first lets attract more and more people to it

 

[ujjwal]

Hmm ... despite playing with Linux for quite a while now ... I do not know the exact difference between the two terms.

So anyway ... its a name yaar ... why bother?

I actually would have preferred dividing "Software" Into "Windows9x/NT", "Unix/Linux/*nix" and "Applications". But this is fine as well, as it provides a base for other open source software as well

 

[drgrudge]

We all think open source is all about related to linux and GNU, by changing the forum name, we can change that attitude...

 

[GNUrag]

Ah, i wanted to write a good reply but didn't have time on hand.. anyways..

now its getting crazy lol . GNU u state that ones creativity limited with open source , but not with FREEDOM SOFTWARE (lets use this to distinguish it better) .

klinux see it closely... i am talking about FreeSoftware and OpenSource software in connection with their licensing agreements. OpenSource software , as per its technical defination, does not allow redistribution of modified copies. Restricting the redistribution of modified sources kills creativity. There's nothing to laugh about it.!

But stallman started it all so that code could be and should be shared with others right ?? and based on open code , people can use their creative ideas and implement them ? so how do u say open source is hinderance to creativity ???

creativity and all that is okay.. But the OpenSource Defination per-se hinders creativity.

. another thing . i think if ur sticking to a name stick to FREEDOM s/w or FREEDOM Ware , koz i think thats they msg ur trying to bring out right ?

That is one valid suggestion. Merely saying Free Software would make a average college student think about Proprietary FreeWares ... But remember, That is just one user group who use computers... There are dozens of other category of people who can and have been easily explained the difference between them.

, plus who said linux is free in monetary terms ?????

I didn't... never...

so unless the linux/gnu/open source guys themselves , kome with a better and more convenient method to spread the real meaning of linux , stick to the old name .

And keep the misinformation spreading....
IMHO, its better to start right now, than keep thinking about the right time to come.

regarding open source being small portion of the pie , arent most important parts of linux / gnu open source ??? should we look at percentage of open source or the usefulness of open source ???

That's what i am saying... All Free Software is OpenSource... but all OpenSource software is not free software..

The software that comes with GPL/MIT/BSD/APL/SPL/ whatever public license is a Free Software... And its just a tiny group of software which is OpenSource with respect to its licensing...
One software that i remember is PINE .. PINE is an OpenSource software and you cannot redistribute the modified sources or binaries... I can hardly remember any other OpenSource software.

If just by calling these softwares as Open Source it become more attractive and more people adopt it, ultimately the free software movement is the gainer. We can continue with educating the people later.

When will that later come? Better start right now than waiting for all the new comers to understand the difference..

 

[BONZI]

I prefer the way it is now. There were some good points made from both sides. The topic has been taken to extreme ends. But lets not make it complex. Out of 5000 ppl here for 4500 ppl 'Free software' means something that you will get without paying anything. Why should we confuse those ppl??? Let them spam at general discussion. . And ofcourse GNUrag from your part I'm sure you will have to spend lot more time cleaning the board For many windows still rulez. Let it rule them .


If you have any plan to change the name. Plz post a couple of threads [sticky] explaining what free software means. And this forum is not for the jacks of cracks [or crack jacks]

 

[klinux]

ok To Gnu , the couple of fires and all in favour of name change . Just define the opensource or free s/w or linux in terms of explaining to a child , even use animation , artwork or good analogies (not the free beer thing again ) and maybe , just maybe everyone could live peacefully instead of raking their heads on this subject . unfortunately linux and gpl and the whole bunch wasnt covered in my 12th comp sci nor in my MCA , so please , as u would a child , explain it clearly , so that we dont OFFEND others . Another thing , u MUST take the responsibility of a teacher too , as thats exactly what ur doing , teaching and enlightening others . Remember teachers always want the whole class to pass out and dont concentrate on a few . So whether u like it or not u are teachers and have a responsibility , so making us mugging and vomitting the gpl and other stuff by heart isnt good . giving the link to gpl and making us read it too isnt good . Plus hearing the plusses and minuses (if these are words ) of the WHOLE PACKAGE from u will be good . koz we expect u guys , unlike BIG corps , to be honest abt everything and not follow stuff blindly . So hope i made things clear . If u took the time to explain it once ,in laymans terms with examples and humour too . it would be the best and easiest way to get the message across . so going back and forth on a few points alone wont help , unless they are explained . i know u cant spoon feed each an every line , but a basic idea would be good start

 

[tuxfan]

When will that later come? Better start right now than waiting for all the new comers to understand the difference..

That "later" will come when there is a mass adoption of the "free" software. As of now instead of burdening an average user (who just wants his work done and cares a hoot about these technicalities) just tempt him to use these softwares in place of propritory ones. That is one place where more energy and resources need to be spent.