Reprinted at http://article.yeeyan.org/view/129288/143966
English version: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/31717/what-do-the-phrases-free-speech-vs.-free-beer-really-mean/
In the open source community, when people talk about certain software products, you often hear phrases like Free as in Speech and Free as in Beer. But what exactly do these phrases mean? Next, let us explore the meaning behind these phrases together.
This type of term is usually used to distinguish different types of free software. For example, Internet Explorer and Opera are one type, while open source software such as CHromium and Firefox is another. In short, it can be translated into "completely free" and "no or only a few restrictions". Please continue reading.
Free as in Beer
Free as in Beer should be said to be the easiest concept to understand-free beer is a gift given to you by others, you don't have to spend a penny, and others do not expect to get anything from you. The giver pays for the beer himself, but gives it to you for free. This is the "free" part of the meaning of this phrase, which means "no need to spend a penny".
This phrase applies to similar to Adobe’s Flash PLayer and Oracle’s Java: Both software are free for users to use, but users cannot view their source code or modify them. You are also not allowed to freely distribute such software to the public, or to submit repair defects/patches and include them in the product. Finally, the giver (such as Adobe and Oracle) has the power to decide which brand of beer to give you and when to give it to you.
Note : This phrase should not be confused with beerware licensed software . The meaning of the latter is: If a user meets a software developer, if you think that software is worth using, you can consider asking the software developer to have a beer. Beerware licensed software is still software in the category of Free as in Speech.
Free as in Speech
On the other hand, Free as in Speech refers to the right to freedom, not just the ability to obtain software for free. This freedom gives you four rights that "free beer" cannot provide, as follows:
- As a user, you have the right to run the software in the way you like . This means that if you run the software on a computer, no problem! If you have a mobile phone or a calculator that can run the software, that's fine, just use it.
- You have the right to know how the software works . This is similar to the fact that you can know the secret recipe of your favorite beer or soft drink. As far as "free beer" is concerned, consumers usually do not have this right.
- Redistribute the software any way you want . This means that you can package the software and include it in your own program, or you can build a mirror site yourself so that friends can download the software directly from your site.
- You have the right to improve the software , if you know how to improve it. You can submit an improvement plan so that the majority of users can benefit from your efforts.
Free as in speech software is usually issued under the name of the GPL agreement. Sometimes it is called free software instead of open source software. The purpose is to emphasize the "free" nature of such software.
GPL类软件有许多不同的衍生分类，也有其他很多授权协议都提供了上述的自由权利，包括beerware和WTFPL。在Free Software Foundation网站上，你可以了解到更多关于真正免费软件的资讯。
其实归根到底，你要么有自由的权利，要么就是没有。