Our work begins by asking ourselves, “Is it free?” because our purpose is to respect your individual user needs, autonomy, and right to decide for yourself. We empower people to build a future built on free software that, above all, puts the user first. By supporting our work, you help support everyone's rights. Please help us reach our goal of $400,000 USD!
What is Free Software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Since 1983, developing the free Unix style operating system GNU, so that computer users can have the freedom to share and improve the software they use.
When Free Software Depends on Nonfree - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
When a program is free software (free as in freedom), that means it gives users the four freedoms, so that they control what the program does. In most cases, that is sufficient for the program's distribution to be ethical; but not always. There are additional problems that can arise in specific circumstances. This article describes a subtle problem, where upgrading the free program requires using a nonfree program.
datamash - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Our work begins by asking ourselves, “Is it free?” because our purpose is to respect your individual user needs, autonomy, and right to decide for yourself. We empower people to build a future built on free software that, above all, puts the user first. By supporting our work, you help support everyone's rights. Please help us reach our goal of $400,000 USD!
Chapter 1. Introduction
Free software — open source software[3] — has become the backbone of modern information technology. It runs on your phone, on your laptop and desktop computers, and in embedded microcontrollers for household appliances, automobiles, industrial machinery and countless other devices that we too often forget even have software. Open source is especially prevalent on the servers that provide online services on the Internet. Every time you send an email, visit a web site, or call up some information on your smartphone, a significant portion of the activity is handled by open source software.
When Free Software Isn't (Practically) Superior - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
The Open Source Initiative's mission statement reads, “Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.”
Pluralistic: The (other) problem with automatic conversion of free software to proprietary software (23 Apr 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
Here's an interesting stunt: a project called Malus.sh will take your money, and in exchange, it will ingest any free/open source code you want, refactor that code using an LLM, and spit out a "clean room" version that is freed from all the obligations imposed by the original project's software license:
The Cloud Is a Prison. Can the Local-First Software Movement Set Us Free?
Tired of relying on Big Tech to enable collaboration, peer-to-peer enthusiasts are creating a new model that cuts out the middleman. (That’s you, Google.)
Front Page — Free Software Foundation — working together for free software
The technology overrunning our communities isn't built for the benefit of humanity: it's built so that billionaires can control us. Our lives don't have to be this way. The FSF empowers users with free software, technology built through global collaboration, mutual respect, and above all, freedom. The FSF will always continue to resist the encroachment of nonfree software. We're fighting to protect all computer users and build a better future.
Datamash Examples - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Our work begins by asking ourselves, “Is it free?” because our purpose is to respect your individual user needs, autonomy, and right to decide for yourself. We empower people to build a future built on free software that, above all, puts the user first. By supporting our work, you help support everyone's rights. Please help us reach our goal of $400,000 USD!
Cory Doctorow: IP
You’ve probably heard of “open source software.” If you pay attention to the politics of this stuff, you might have heard of “free software” and even know a little ab…
Google Code Archive - Long-term storage for Google Code Project Hosting.
"100% FREE award granted by Softpedia" http://mac.softpedia.com/progClean/Movist-Clean-30183.html
Talking to the Mailman
Growing domination of companies over users, malicious functionalities, tracking and widespread surveillance. The leading campaigner for software freedom discusses the present technological landscape and the political relevance of the campaign for free software.
Why Open Source Misses the Point of Free Software - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
The terms “free software” and “open source” stand for almost the same range of programs. However, they say deeply different things about those programs, based on different values. The free software movement campaigns for freedom for the users of computing; it is a movement for freedom and justice. By contrast, the open source idea values mainly practical advantage and does not campaign for principles. This is why we do not agree with open source, and do not use that term.
De-google-ify Internet - Main Page
The web giants centralize our digital lives in exchange for their services The Free Software community offers alternative ethical services The Framasoft network intends to prove itby hosting them
Google is its own worst enemy
In its bid to push AI, it’s destroying its products and trying to kill the web too
The Money In Open-Source Software | TechCrunch
It’s no secret that open-source technology -- once the province of radicals, hippies and granola eaters -- has gone mainstream. According to industry estimates, more than 180 young companies that give away their software raised roughly $3.2 billion in financing from 2011 to 2014. Despite the growing popularity of open-source software, though, many open-source companies are not financially healthy.
