Computing Dictionary
free software definition
software Software that everyone is free to copy, redistribute and modify. That implies free software must be available as
source code, hence "free open source software" - "FOSS". It is usually also free of charge, though anyone can sell free software so long as they don't impose any new restrictions on its redistribution or use. The widespread acceptance of this definition and free software itself owes a great deal to
Richard Stallman and the
Free Software Foundation.
There are many other kinds of "free software" in the sense of "free of charge". See "
-ware".
This dictionary is free in both senses, though since it is documentation not
software it is distributed under the
GFDL.
(2007-02-09)