Open-source and free software: Free, as in beer | Linux Today
Infrastructure
SHARE
Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp

Open-source and free software: Free, as in beer

Written By
Web Webster
Web Webster
Mar 13, 2013

First, let’s talk about why open-source and free software is created.

Open source is software that is created using any number of licenses conforming to the official definition by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).

Free software is created exclusively using the GPL and the LGPL, the only two licenses that are acceptable and were created by the Free Software Foundation (FSF).

First, the two philosophies should never, ever be confused with each other. While open source includes the GPL and LGPL, and is a more inclusive philosophy overall, there are defining tenets of both that have caused strife between adherents of each.
Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

Linux Today Logo

LinuxToday is a trusted, contributor-driven news resource supporting all types of Linux users. Our thriving international community engages with us through social media and frequent content contributions aimed at solving problems ranging from personal computing to enterprise-level IT operations. LinuxToday serves as a home for a community that struggles to find comparable information elsewhere on the web.

facebook
linkedin
x

Company

Contact us

Categories

News IT Management Infrastructure Developer Security High Performance Storage Blog

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

Terms of Service Privacy Policy California - Do Not Sell My Information