One of the biggest problems I face when explaining FOSS(Free and Open Source Software) to people that haven't heard of it before, is one of perception.
Many seem to perceive FOSS as meaning that it will cost no money. Not only that, it seems that some think that all software that is given away for free is FOSS.
Nothing farther than the truth. If any software is to be considered FOSS, it most respect these user freedoms:
- Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program for any purpose.
- Freedom 1: The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish.
- Freedom 2: The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.
- Freedom 3: The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole community benefits.
Note that price is not an issue, since anyone can charge for the software they made if it complies to giving users the freedoms mentioned above. Without respect for these freedoms no piece of software can be truly be considered FOSS, regardless of the price.
Other issue, is that many seem to assume that the quality of any software developed under FOSS will be low. Seems that many don't know that software like Firefox are open source, not to mention that most of the Internet traffic passes trough GNU/Linux based servers.
Another area where FOSS software can prove it's worth, is that it powers almost all the most powerful supercomputers used to advance science and technology.
In more ways that one, it seems that the most important issue holding widespread adoption of FOSS is one of perception. The quality and robustness of FOSS has been long being proven, now there is a big need to change how people thinks of FOSS.
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