The software development industry uses very technical jargon all the time. Sometimes these terms can be difficult to track and differentiate, especially with the speed at which they are changing and evolving. Even worse, some of these terms are similar, only adding to the confusion for someone who is only starting in the industry or completely unaware. The terms Freeware, Free Software, and Open Source are just some of these terms that can form confusion to the uninitiated. They are considered to be one of the most commonly confused sets of software terms in the industry. That said, clarifying the definition, uses, advantages, and audience users of each of these terms can provide clarity for even beginners in the industry.
Freeware
- What is Freeware?
- Examples and Uses of Freeware
- Who uses Freeware?
- Pros and Cons of Freeware
Freeware is the most direct of these software terms, as it is defined as software that is free of charge. You will not incur any costs when acquiring and using this kind of software. Most of the time, however, the source code for freeware is often unavailable to the public, limiting its use and the possibility of any modification.
Applications like Skype and internet browsers like Google Chrome are just some examples of freeware commonly being used. They have specific uses which are limited by their developers. These are usually marketed as “freemium,” meaning that the core functions of the software are free to use, but additional benefits and features can be gained and accessed through additional costs or purchases.
Of all the terms to be discussed, freeware is perhaps the most widely used, especially outside the software development industry. Most of the time, the source code for these applications is made unavailable simply because its market does not need access to such codes. These are geared towards the general public rather than just the software development industry.
The most significant advantage of freeware is that it’s free. There are no upfront costs needed to be incurred when using this kind of software. However, as mentioned, it is quite limited in its uses, and any chance of modifying the source code is out of the question. While the market is geared towards more general audiences, software developers are not permitted to modify, redistribute, or make improvements or alterations to them unless permitted by the author.
Free Software
- What is Free Software?
- Examples and Uses of Free Software
- Who Uses Free Software?
- Pros and Cons of Free Software
Unlike freeware, where “free” talks about the pricing, the “free” in free software are geared towards freedom. Freeware software is sometimes referred to as “libre software.” This is defined as software that freely allows users to distribute, study, and alter it without the author’s initial permission. As opposed to freeware, free software allows users free access to its source code. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) supports this kind of development and highlights four pillars for its use. This highlights the users’ freedom to (1) deploy the software with no restrictions whatsoever, (2) study and modify the software for their own needs, (3) redistribute the software to assist others whether at cost or no cost, and (4) enhance the software the way they see fit.
The Linux operating systems and the MySQL relational database are just some of the best-known examples of free software. These require a license to use in order to benefit from the four pillars, as mentioned earlier, and have a variety of uses, depending on the base software that can be modified. Other examples like the MIT License are considered permissive while having limited restrictions in terms of software reuse.
Free software users require a license to access the benefits they provide. It means that they are reserved for the more well-versed in software development, as these people are the ones who can make use of the freedom of access to modify, improve, and share the software.
The benefits of free software have been identified through the four pillars mentioned by the FSF. They provide the ability to openly make use of free software to modify and improve the software’s source code to help others and for personal use. This has also led to collaborative efforts and even active communities forming around these free software. On the other hand, while some freely respect the freedom that free software allows, some licenses still have limitations and limited restrictions, making it not completely an open-source code.
Open Source
- What is Open Source?
- Examples and Uses of Open Source
- Who Uses Open Source?
- Pros and Cons of Open Source
Open source software is quite similar to free software due to the access and freedom it provides. However, as free software adheres to the four pillars stated by the FSF to define its group of licenses and software, open source follows different criteria set by The Open Source Initiative (OSI). These criteria follow that the software (1) can freely be distributed, (2) is publicly available, (3) can be modified in a different format from the original, (4) must not be discriminatory in any way, and (5) should not restrict the usage of other software.
The internet browser Mozilla Firefox, the Android Operating Systems, and the WordPress content management systems are famous examples of open source software that is publicly available. In terms of their usage, these are geared towards the more practical benefits of a “free software,” that is the freedom to modify and share the software. It focuses more on the corporate side of software creation rather than the moral ideologies of free software.
As mentioned, the public availability of open source allows for anyone in the public to access them. While the stated examples are widely used in public, it also benefits those adept in software development, as they can cater the software to their needs and share their improvements to active communities continuously evolving this software.
You can clearly see the advantages of open source, as its public access and popularity of its examples would show. These are user-friendly and adaptable to the hands of the developer. However, to debate with free software, this is more geared towards the business-oriented rather than moral philosophy. This means that it puts more emphasis on developmental projects than respecting the four pillars of freedom.
Conclusion
In essence, these three software development terms are not far from their definitions but are also not difficult to distinguish. They may be confusing to those encountering them for the first time or even for those adept with development at times. However, it is always important to make those distinctions to use the terms and the meaning behind them properly. Understanding and putting to heart each of these terminologies can go a long way in getting a better look into not only the technical side of the software development industry, but also into the communities and philosophies behind each one. They may be simple terms that are easy to mix up, but they are all rife with meaning and detail once you delve into them.