Free Software vs Open-source Software

I only provide this video to educate open-minded computer users on the difference between open-source software and free software as defined by Richard Stallman.

Free software means that you get the source code along with the program, and are free to examine, modify and use that program. As well, the software is free of proprietary code i.e. contain no code which is hidden by a corporation to protect intellectual property used to profit said corporation.

The biggest difference between open-source software and free software is this:

The term “open source” software is used by some people to mean more or less the same category as free software. It is not exactly the same class of software: they accept some licenses that we consider too restrictive, and there are free software licenses they have not accepted. However, the differences in extension of the category are small: nearly all free software is open source, and nearly all open source software is free. — Free Software Foundation (FSF), http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html

Free software is not freeware.

Most flavors of Linux are composed almost entirely of free software.

Yet gNewSense is the only operating system which meets the FSF's strict guidelines for free software.

OpenGridForum: Child of DARPA

Open Forum: Open Standards


"The Open Grid Forum (OGF) is a community of users, developers, and vendors leading the global standardization effort for grid computing. The OGF community consists of thousands of individuals in industry and research, representing over 400 organizations in more than 50 countries. Together we work to accelerate adoption of grid computing worldwide because we believe grids will lead to new discoveries, new opportunities, and better business practices." — Overview, Who We Are

"The Open Grid Forum accelerates grid adoption to enable business value and scientific discovery by providing an open forum for grid innovation and developing open standards for grid software interoperability." — The OGF Mission, ibid.

It is a subset of Open Source Software.

OGF is strong in the domestic American military industrial complex and globally in the European analog of the military industrial complex, but Canadian participation is notably absent. In Canada we have super-fast network links connecting campuses across the country.

This is where Ottawa agreed to front money to improve networking infrastructure between campuses across the nation so that research scientists in universities can collaborate in real-time with each other.

As well, other providers help with building infrastructure.