Compare and Contrast (i) Free software and Open source software (ii) OSS and FLOSS (iii) Proprietary software and Free software

Q. Compare and Contrast

(i) Free software and Open source software

(ii) OSS and FLOSS

(iii) Proprietary software and Free software

(iv) Freeware and Shareware

(v) Freeware and Free software.

Answer =

(i) Free software: - Software available free of cost and also can be copied and redistributed but no source code is available.

Open source software: - Software whose source code is available and which can be modified, copied and redistributed.

(ii) Open source software: - Software whose source code is available and which can be modified, copied and redistributed.

FLOSS: - Free Libre and Open Source Software or to Free Livre and Open Source Software. The term FLOSS is used to refer to a software which is both free software as well as open source software. Here the words libre (a Spanish word) and livre (a Portuguese word) mean freedom.

(iii) Proprietary software: - Proprietary software is the software that is neither open nor freely available. Its use is regulated and further distribution and modification is either forbidden or requires special permission by the supplier or vendor. Source code of proprietary software is normally not available.

Free software: - Software available free of cost and also can be copied and redistributed but no source code is available.

(iv) Freeware: - The term freeware is generally used for software, which is available free of cost and which allows copying and further distribution, but not modification and whose source code is not available. Freeware should not be mistaken for open software or for free software. Freeware is distributed in binary form (ready to run) without any licensing fee. In some instances the right to use the software is limited to certain types of users, for instance, for private and non-commercial purposes. One example is Microsoft Internet Explorer, which is made available as freeware.

Shareware: - Shareware is software, which is made available with the right to redistribute copies, but it is stipulated that if one intends to use the software, often after a certain period of time, then a license fee should be paid.

(v) Freeware: - The term freeware is generally used for software, which is available free of cost and which allows copying and further distribution, but not modification and whose source code is not available. Freeware should not be mistaken for open software or for free software. Freeware is distributed in binary form (ready to run) without any licensing fee. In some instances the right to use the software is limited to certain types of users, for instance, for private and non-commercial purposes. One example is Microsoft Internet Explorer, which is made available as freeware.

Free software: - Software available free of cost and also can be copied and redistributed but no source code is available.