---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: limodou <limodou在gmail.com>
Date: Sep 5, 2007 2:21 PM
Subject: [OT]什么是自由软件
To: "Python.cn在google" <python-cn在googlegroups.com>


http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

什么是自由软件?在GNU的网站上有明确的解释,见上面的链接.那么自由软件(Free Software)就是:


We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be
true about a particular software program for it to be considered free
software.

Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the
concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free
beer.

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,
distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it
refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

    * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
    * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your
needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for
this.
    * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
(freedom 2).
    * The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits
(freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus,
you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without
modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other
things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission.

以上四个条件满足就是自由软件.

再向下:

You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may
have obtained copies at no charge. But regardless of how you got your
copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the software,
even to sell copies.

可以花钱得到自由软件,或者不花钱.自由软件并不是讲软件得到的方式,而是对源代码的使用方面.

Free software does not mean non-commercial. A free program must be
available for commercial use, commercial development, and commercial
distribution. Commercial development of free software is no longer
unusual; such free commercial software is very important.

自由软件与商业软件并不是对立的,而是与不公开,私有相对立的.你一样可以通过自由软件挣钱.

In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect these freedoms legally
for everyone. But non-copylefted free software also exists. We believe
there are important reasons why  it is better to use copyleft, but if
your program is non-copylefted free software, we can still use it.

GNU项目采用了copyleft来保护自由权利,但是不是所有的自由软件都是copyleft的.所以在
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html
专门列出了已知的与GPL兼容的自由许可证,与GPL不兼容的自由许可证和非自由许可证.

--
I like python!
UliPad <>: http://code.google.com/p/ulipad/
My Blog: http://www.donews.net/limodou


-- 
I like python!
UliPad <>: http://code.google.com/p/ulipad/
My Blog: http://www.donews.net/limodou