Free Open Source Software or FOSS

Before the Start:

Paid Software: a software that is bought for a fee
Free software: software that is available free of cost, also called as freeware

source code: the human readable text that is written in the syntax of the programming language and consosts of the logic and commands of the program.

compiler: a program that prepares a soirce code and converts it into machine readable form

binary/executable: this is created ftom the source code by compiling it. in this form the program cannot be read by humans.

open source: software whose source code is not available

Proprietary software: this would obviously mean a software that has a proprietor. But the term is usually used for paid, closed-source software. we shall continue in the same vein. the opposite would be free open source software or FOSS.

Commercial Software: commercial softwares means softwares used in commercial enterprises. But the term is also used for closed source, paid softwares. Non commercial softwares usually applies to softwares used for not for profit purpose and personal use.

Software vendors: refers to the software creatoes/owner and sellers.


Open Source movements:
OSS (Open Source Softwares) Vs PS (Proprietaary Softwares)
Richard Stallman (the Xerox Printer Story)
Linus Torvalds (MSc Thesis, Linux : A Portable OS)
Open SOurce Initiative, By Eric Raymond and Bruce Perens
GNU - "GNU's Not UNIX"
GPL - General Public Licence

"free" is "freedom of choice - use, modify and distribute" but not exactly "free of cost". Considerable charge can be taken...

Linux is OSS but UNIX is PS.


X11 or X Windows (PS) but when accepted with OSL (Open Source License liberals) later became free as Xfree86

SUGGESTION:
Slowly Shift towards the OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARES and OSes..
Better start with the Application you use...

PS OSS
Office Application MS- OFFICE OpenOffice.Org
Graphics Editor Adobe Photoshop The GIMP
Vector Graphics Corel Draw InkScape
Media Player WMP, Winamp, Power DVD Media Player Classic, VLC


Refer:
SourceForge.Net
http://www.sourceforge.net