The Free Software Foundation (FSF)

Visit the Free Software Foundation (FSF) web page concerning the definition of free software at http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html(opens in a new tab). Review the content on the website. Write a short paragraph on the meaning of "free software". Be sure to identify the four essential freedoms. In order for freedoms 1 and 3 to be meaningful, what does the FSF feel you need to access? (Please watch the numbering of the freedoms, it’s a little different on the FSF website.)

The Free Software Foundation (FSF) defines "free software" as software that respects the users' freedom and gives them the freedom to run, study, modify, and distribute the software. According to the FSF, there are four essential freedoms associated with free software: Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program for any purpose. Freedom 1: The freedom to study how the program works and access the source code. Freedom 2: The freedom to redistribute copies and help others. Freedom 3: The freedom to improve the program and release improvements to the public. In order for freedoms 1 and 3 to be meaningful, the FSF believes that users need to have access to the source code of the software. Without access to the source code, users are unable to understand how the program functions, modify it to suit their needs, or contribute improvements back to the community. The FSF views these freedoms as fundamental rights that software users should have in order to have control over their computing experience and to foster collaboration and innovation within the software community.

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