Free Software vs free software

10 Comments »

1. “Free Software” unambiguously refers to FSF’s definition of libre software, while “free software” could be understood to mean zero-cost software.

   I’d say capitalize it if there’s a chance of misundestanding.

   Comment by Marius Gedminas — June 12, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

2. Thanks, this is very helpful!

   b

   Comment by Biella — June 12, 2009 @ 2:31 pm

3. IMHO there’s no difference, but I usually write it not capitalized

   Comment by Cuetzpallin — June 12, 2009 @ 2:36 pm

4. Richard Stallman does not capitalize it, so why we should? The phrase “free software” is not typically used in other meanings, software free as in beer but not speech is usually called “freeware” (not used for free software since many years). If someone does not know free software, then capitalization won’t help them, else both spellings will have the correct meaning.

   Comment by Micha? Mas?owski — June 12, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

5. Whatever… Some languages don’t even have this distinction.

   Comment by Leon — June 12, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

6. I’m with Marius on this one. It’s a concept; it’s a movement; it’s a cause. Capitalization would help the general reader (though I agree that the specialist will know exactly what you mean!)

   Comment by Meredith McGill — June 12, 2009 @ 4:54 pm

7. Thanks! I think I will go with the capitalization for le book.

   Comment by Biella — June 13, 2009 @ 6:56 am

8. Lean toward capitalization too. Michael Maslowski may be a bit optimistic; at least, I still see “free software” used to mean “zero-charge software” in non-specialist forums with some frequency.

   Comment by Karl Fogel — June 13, 2009 @ 4:53 pm

9. I capitalize it because I want to be clear that I am referring to more than just free software. I’m talking about freedom, the movement, ideals, etc. It’s a way to mark it as something bigger than just the words “free” and “software”.

   Also, I’m a giant free software geek. I met an astrophysicist at a party tonight. I could have asked him anything I wanted about the Hubble project. Instead I have him Ubuntu configuration tips until his wife dragged him away in search of more interesting conversation. Me == party guest fail.

   Comment by James Vasile — June 13, 2009 @ 9:57 pm

10. I discuss free software without Title Case.

    I don’t think we need to make a special term out of it any more than we needed the term “Open Source”. We don’t need to title-case “free market” or “free speech”, after all, so I think it’s best to grasp the nettle and demonstrate that we’re *not* using the term in a non-standard way.

    It’s an opportunity to make the point that “free” and “software” both just mean what they always mean, and to be slightly surprised that someone would think of price as the primary criterion for calling something “free”.

    Comment by Ben Finney — June 14, 2009 @ 6:00 am

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