What is free software?

Gates has visited China for the tenth time, but it is still quite eye-catching. Today, when Microsoft encountered an open-source protest, the event became even more eye-catching.
From seeing this message at noon, the first reaction was that which of the open-source fighters started to work hard. It would not be another major initiative after Bill Xu's "Open letter to China Merchants Bank" campaign. The figures in the photos in the news are not clear, but they do not look like Bill. It's like another person I only know.

The afternoon message quickly confirmed my conjecture that the warrior was Wang open source, chief representative of LPI China.

It is a coincidence to know Wang open-source. At the beginning of the month, when he attended the csdn hero meetingThe soft R & D group met him on the bus. The first impression is quite enthusiastic.So he also talked a lot about open source topics along the way. He jokedAfter arriving at Microsoft, he will send his business cards to every corner and publicize the open-source concept at Microsoft..

After visiting Microsoft, I chatted with Yu Shiqi, one of the directors of the Free Software Association of the Chinese Emy of sciences, and talked about Wang open-source. He said he met at the Ubuntu edgy EFT Beijing Press Conference organized by the Association. Said Wang open-source jumped onto the podium at the press conference.Tao has been talking about the concept of open source for a long time.

So when today's message was confirmed, he shouted "Free Software, open source" at the gates conference"And I am not so surprised.

From last year's "Open letter to China Merchants Bank" to this "spoiler" Microsoft innovation activity MEETINGIt is a good thing that we hear more and more voices of Free Software in China.. However, there is a lot of controversy behind the incident. In the Web 2.0 era, both events quickly reach everyone's ears through the Internet without exception.The public's views on the incident were soon spread over the Internet.

Some people support such activities because such activities contribute to the concept of free software in China.Communication: In plain life, some exciting events are needed to attract public attention.Some people support free software, but do not support such radical behavior.Because they will leave open source, it is a radical impression; more people may not knowThe meanings and differences between free, free, and open-source words can be understood with your own experience.The evaluation is naturally negative.

Open source is an action that refers to opening up the source code of the software, but the Open Source Code also hasIn many forms, different open-source protocols determine the differences between open-source forms.. There are many protocols, including GPL, lgpl, And FreeBSD.Apache and other widely used protocols can also be defined by you.They have the same thing in that they stipulate that the source code is exposed,What users can do after code is scope, and the provisions of various protocols are different.. For example, if you use the GPL protocol, it means any derivative generated from the open source code.All products must be open-source using the GPL protocol. The FreeBSD protocol does not.Strict.

Free. This word may be translated from free software or freeware. Most peopleFirst known by the software. If freeware can be considered as a free softwareIt is a big mistake to translate free software into free software.

Free software. The correct translation should be free software. Borrow the title of my blogUsing a sentence on the GNU website title: Free as in freedom (Chinese translation of the GNU website into "free", although the meaning has completely changedBut I think the artistic conception is similar. I really appreciate this translation ). Free in free software should be free in freedomThat is, freedom. Free software does not mean free or chargedIt means to ensure that every user of the software has the same freedom.. You can use, modify, and distribute free software freely."You must ensure that other users of the software have the same freedom as you do.Benefits. Free software does not set fees or not, but because the rights are equalSo even if you are charged, You can distribute your software at or without any fees.Therefore, free software and service charges have become the main business model of free software.. It is worth noting that the relationship between freedom and copyright lies in GNU, Copyleft(There is no standard translation in Chinese. I think it is translated into "left-right" or "symmetric copyright "."Better) This word indicates the understanding of copyright. Freedom does not give up Copyright, But provides the freedom of others while retaining the copyright.

FSF's GNU has become the main advocate of free software.Standard. GPL is also one of the most widely used open source protocols. Richard Stallman is the godfather of the free software movement. Freedom in their eyesThe meaning of the software has exceeded the meaning of the software, and is more of a belief.

It has become an indispensable part of my daily life since I was truly exposed to free software last year.But a small part. But in my personal opinion, free software is more of an idealInstead of faith. I do not like Richard Stallman's religious free software movement. I also disagreeTo promote the concept of free software. Hackers reflected in Free Software(Note the difference between this word and "hacker". I will not repeat it here.) And the idea of advocating freedom is what attracts me. For"Strong support for free software, persuasion of open-source education software, and retaliation against proprietary software"This so-called" attitude that a free software developer should have "I really do not agreeAs the spirit of free software advocates, everyone should be free.Naturally, it should also allow others to have the freedom to choose proprietary software. Maybe free software needs oneLeading figures and revolutionaries, but the concept of excessive and blind freedom of propaganda is trueIt is not an encouraging method.