# Cassini > free software **Wikidata**: [Q1048378](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1048378) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cassini-q1048378 ## Summary Free software is software distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it, including modified versions. It is a software category associated with the free software movement and is often discussed alongside open-source software and free and open-source software (FOSS). The concept is defined by the "four freedoms" that grant users permissions to use, examine, modify, and share the program. ## Key Facts - Free software is defined as software distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it and modified versions. - It is an instance of a **software category** and a facet of a **computer program**. - Free software is characterized by the **four freedoms**: the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the software. - It is part of both the **free software movement** and the **open source movement**. - Free software is explicitly positioned as the **opposite of proprietary software**. - It is classified as a subclass of **freely redistributable software**, **source-available software**, and **open-source software**. - The data includes a "said to be the same as" relationship linking free software to **open-source software** and **free and open-source software** (FOSS). - It is explicitly listed as "different from" **freeware**, **freely redistributable software**, **open-source software**, and a **free software license**. - Wikimedia resources exist, including a Commons category ("Free software") and a main Wikipedia title ("Free software"). - Sitelink count: 120 - Wikipedia languages include: de (German) - Freebase ID: /m/02z7qfz ## FAQs ### Q: What is free software? A: Free software is software distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it, including modified versions. It is a software category associated with the free software movement that emphasizes user freedoms rather than restrictions. ### Q: Is free software the same as open-source software? A: The provided data includes a "said to be the same as" relationship linking free software to open-source software and free and open-source software (FOSS). However, it also separately lists "different from: open-source software," indicating the terms can be treated differently depending on context—the free software movement and open-source movement have distinct philosophies despite overlapping membership. ### Q: Is free software the same as freeware? A: No. The data explicitly lists free software as "different from: freeware." Free software is defined by freedoms to run, study, change, and distribute, including modified versions, whereas freeware is proprietary software distributed at no cost but without granting modification or redistribution rights. ### Q: What are the "four freedoms"? A: The four freedoms define free software: the freedom to run the program, the freedom to study how the program works and modify it, the freedom to redistribute copies, and the freedom to distribute modified versions. These permissions distinguish free software from proprietary restrictions. ### Q: What is the opposite of free software? A: The opposite of free software is **proprietary software**. Proprietary software restricts users from viewing, modifying, or redistributing the source code, contrasting with the open permissions model of free software. ### Q: What movements is free software associated with? A: Free software is associated with both the **free software movement** (which emphasizes user freedoms as a moral imperative) and the **open source movement** (which emphasizes development and collaboration benefits). It is also part of the broader FOSS (free and open-source software) ecosystem. ## Why It Matters Free software matters because it fundamentally redefines the relationship between software creators and users. By guaranteeing the four freedoms—run, study, change, and distribute—free software empowers users to maintain control over their computing, inspect code for security and privacy, customize software to meet specific needs, and share improvements with communities. This stands in direct opposition to proprietary software models that restrict these permissions. The concept serves as a central organizing principle within the computing world, providing an alternative distribution model that emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and user autonomy. The free software movement, led by organizations such as the Free Software Foundation, has influenced software development practices globally, contributing to foundational technologies like Linux, GNU tools, and countless other projects that power modern computing infrastructure. The distinction between free software and related terms (freeware, open-source software, freely redistributable software) is also significant for legal and ethical considerations. Understanding these distinctions helps users make informed choices about the software they run, the licenses they adopt, and the communities they support. As an opposite to proprietary software, free software represents a philosophical and practical alternative that has shaped decades of technological development. ## Notable For - Defined by the **four freedoms**: the ability to run, study, change, and distribute software and modified versions. - Serving as the **opposite of proprietary software** in the software distribution landscape. - Being a foundational concept for both the **free software movement** and **open source movement**. - Having a **sitelink count of 120**, indicating extensive cross-referencing in knowledge bases. - Being classified as a **software category** and a facet of a **computer program**. - Having aliases including **libre software**, **programa libre**, **código libre**, **logiciels libres**, and others in different languages. - Providing the conceptual foundation for numerous tools, libraries, and applications including Buildroot, Minikube, urllib, pdfjam, GNUnet, and GitHub CLI. ## Body ### Definition and Core Idea Free software is defined by a specific set of permissions granted to users. Unlike proprietary software, which restricts viewing, modification, and redistribution of source code, free software distributes programs under terms that allow users to: - **Freely run** the software for any purpose - **Study** how the software works by accessing the source code - **Change** the software to suit individual needs - **Distribute** copies of the original software - **Distribute modified versions** of the software These four core freedoms form the philosophical and practical foundation of the free software concept. The emphasis is not on price (free as in beer) but on freedom (free as in speech)—the ability to exercise control over the software one uses. ### Classification and Taxonomy In terms of classification, free software holds specific positions within the software ecosystem: - **Instance of**: Software category - **Facet of**: Computer program - **Subclass of**: - Freely redistributable software - Source-available software - Open-source software This classification places free software within a hierarchy of software types, distinguishing it from proprietary alternatives while acknowledging overlaps with related categories. ### Movements and Conceptual Placement Free software exists at the intersection of several important technological and social movements: - **Free software movement**: A social movement that advocates for user freedom regarding software, emphasizing that software should be treated as a public good rather than private property. This movement, associated with the Free Software Foundation, prioritizes user freedoms as a moral imperative. - **Open source movement**: While related, this movement emphasizes the practical benefits of collaborative development rather than ethical considerations. Free software is part of this broader movement, though the two movements have distinct philosophical foundations. - **FOSS (Free and Open-Source Software)**: An umbrella term that encompasses both free software and open-source software, often used when the distinction between the two philosophies is less important than their shared characteristics. ### Terminology and Distinctions Understanding free software requires distinguishing it from related but distinct terms: **"Said to be the same as"** (indicating frequent conflation or equivalence in common usage): - Open-source software - Free and open-source software (FOSS) **"Different from"** (indicating explicit distinction): - Freeware: Free proprietary software distributed at no cost but without source code access or modification rights - Freely redistributable software: Software that can be shared but may not grant modification rights - Open-source software: While often used interchangeably, open-source software technically refers to licensing terms focused on development transparency rather than user freedoms - Free software license: The legal instrument that grants free software permissions, not the software itself **Aliases and translations**: - Libre software - Programa libre (Spanish) - Código libre (Spanish) - Logiciels libres (French) ### Related Entities and Examples The free software ecosystem encompasses numerous tools, libraries, and applications. Examples from the provided data include: - **Buildroot**: Described as free software - **Minikube**: A Kubernetes minikube tool - **urllib**: A Python URL handling library - **pdfjam**: PDF processing tools - **GNUnet**: A secure peer-to-peer networking framework - **GitHub CLI**: Command-line interface for GitHub These examples demonstrate the breadth of the free software ecosystem, spanning development tools, networking software, utilities, and web services. ### Wikimedia and External Resources The topic has dedicated Wikimedia resources: - Commons category: "Free software" - Main Wikipedia title: "Free software" - Wikipedia available in German (de) language ### Schema and Identification Structured data identifiers for free software include: - **Freebase ID**: /m/02z7qfz - **Instance of**: Free software - **Sitelink count**: 1 - **Wikidata description**: Free software ### Practical Implications The free software model has practical implications for: - **Security**: Users can inspect source code for vulnerabilities - **Privacy**: No hidden tracking or data collection mechanisms - **Customization**: Users can modify software to meet specific needs - **Longevity**: Communities can maintain and update software even if original developers abandon it - **Cost**: While not necessarily free of charge, it eliminates vendor lock-in This stands in contrast to proprietary software, where users must accept whatever features, restrictions, and pricing the developer imposes, with no recourse if the software is discontinued or modified in undesirable ways.