I was just thinking

"Unplugging from the Commercial Software Grid: Why Free is Better Even if you have a Budget"

Unplugging from the Commercial Software Grid: Why Free is Better Even if you have a Budget

Mountain Moodle Moot Session Resources

Helena MT

May 32, 2012

The name “GNU” is a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix!”. "GNU" is pronounced g'noo, as one syllable, like saying "grew" but replacing the r with n.

“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.

Vendor Churn

When times are tough iT purchasers reduce their spending, by cancelling or postponing investments until the economic climate improves. A simple survival strategy for those who use and buy iT but a portent of doom for those who make, sell and run iT. However, when the flow of new sales dries up, iT vendors have a powerful tool in their armoury – they can stimulate their turgid revenue streams by setting a ‘sunset ’ date: withdrawing support for older products, squeezing their installed userbase of customers into spending money in hard times.