Re:Open-Source Washing
by Denote6737 on Monday August 28, 2023 @01:53AM
(#37290276)
Free software comes with its own issues and connotations.
Most people see free and think without cost.
So is shareware free software?
Shareware is not free software, since it does not provide users the right to inspect or modify the software. It is also not freeware, since some or all of its features are not available free of charge.
Indeed, "open source" taken at face value could be interpreted as "source available", but given the historical context, that's not what the term intends to represent.
It's because of this dissonance that I think it's important to make differences clear. Perhaps "free software" has always been a better name, but I think the community needs to come to an agreement on this.