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v. t. e. The history of free and open-source software begins at the advent of computer software in the early half of the 20th century. In the 1950s and 1960s, computer operating software and compilers were delivered as a part of hardware purchases without separate fees. At the time, source code —the human-readable form of software—was ...
proprietary software, such as Microsoft Office, Windows, Adobe Photoshop, Facebook or FaceTime. Users cannot study, change, and share their source code. freeware or gratis [ 14] software, which is a category of proprietary software that does not require payment for basic use.
"Free and open-source software" (FOSS) is an umbrella term for software that is simultaneously considered both free software and open-source software. [5] The precise definition of the terms "free software" and "open-source software" applies them to any software distributed under terms that allow users to use, modify, and redistribute said software in any manner they see fit, without requiring ...
This article presents a timeline of events related to popular free/open-source software. For a narrative explaining the overall development, see the related history of free and open-source software. The Achievements column documents achievements a project attained at some point in time (not necessarily when it was first released).
The Free Software Foundation ( FSF) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded by Richard Stallman [ 6] on October 4, 1985, to support the free software movement, with the organization's preference for software being distributed under copyleft ("share alike") terms, [ 7] such as with its own GNU General Public License. [ 8]
Outline of free software. The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to free software and the free software movement: Free software – software which can be run, studied, examined, modified, and redistributed freely (without any cost). This type of software, which was given its name in 1983, has also come to be known ...
Software is a set of programmed instructions stored in the memory of stored-program digital computers for execution by the processor. Software is a recent development in human history and is fundamental to the Information Age . Ada Lovelace 's programs for Charles Babbage 's Analytical Engine in the 19th century are often considered the founder ...
Some free software advocates use the terms "Free and Open-Source Software" (FOSS) or "Free/Libre and Open-Source Software" (FLOSS) as a form of inclusive compromise, which brings free and open-source software advocates together to work on projects cohesively. Some users believe this is an ideal solution in order to promote both the user's ...