Armin Herbert wrote:
Hi.
On Donnerstag, 30. November 2000 21:09, Lord [INSERT NAME HERE] wrote:
I think we need to come up with a simple, concise (one or two sentence) explanation of Free Software that a layperson can understand. If someone asks me "What is Free Software?", I don't want to have to launch into an explanation of technical details (remember, many people are not even aware of what "source code" means). Try as I might, I can't come up with an explanaiton of this kind. Can anyone else?
Hm, I don't agree with this. Nowadays lawyers jugde about even more complicated things like webbrowsers that are built into an OS. Not to say that they do it well, but I think it shouldn't be too complicated to explain the facts to a lawyer.
Software = A program that can be run by a computer Source Code = The text a programmer has written that can be translated by a compiler so that computers can run it. Free Software = Software that is delivered along with its Source Code and the guarantee that anyone is allowed to run, reproduce, modify, translate etc the Code as long as he keeps the copyright.
Better definitions can be taken from the GPL.
That's all very well and good for lawyers and for long, detailed articles. I was wondering if anyone could come up with something that encapsulates the concept libre software for Joe Sixpack. Such a thing would be invaluable for evangelising, but it looks like no-one else has any etter ideas than me.