Free Software and Mac?

What is meant by the name "Freeware"?

The term "Freeware" is regularly used across the internet but quite often wrongly. Maybe it is the 'Free' part of the term that causes confusion as when someone gives you something for free it is typically yours to use, modify or pass on as you see fit. Unfortunately "Freeware" doesn't mean Free

Basically Freeware means that you can use the software indefinitely without making any payment. The software still has a license governing how you can use it. The software license normally restricts the usage in some way so that, for example, the core files are not allowed to be modified, or you are not allowed to re-distribute the software or take any payment for making the software available for download.

What's the point of this? Why not just give it away?

The simple answer is that whilst you can use the software for as long as you like without payment, there is quite often a business or marketing reason behind the cost free license. For instance, the developer wants you to use a 'Lite' version of the software and be so impressed with it that you buy the full pro version or they would like you to go to their website to download it where they hope to tempt you with other goods.

Does this make Freeware bad? No. It's free to use! How can this be bad?

OK. There may be some marketing behind allowing you to use the software for free but you still get to use it no matter what the ploy is. And if you do like the 'Lite' version of the software why not go ahead and buy the full pro version.

So what software is completely free?

Absolutely free software is know as "Free Software" but this again is a term that has become misused so I would double check by reading any licences or small print before using it as a base to develop your own software.

Here a a couple or other terms relating to Free Software where the meanings have become misused.

Shareware - This type of software you can distribute as much as you like as long as you don't take payment or modify the source code. Generally, this software gives you a licence to use the software for a fixed period (typically 30 days) after which time you need to make a payment to the developer to continue using it.

Open Source - You can modify and distribute this software however much you like. You can use it to create your own software packages and some of the best software around is open source software. What you are never allowed to do is to sell anything that you create from using someone elses open source software. Any license information contained within the source code must remain intact along with any credits to the previous developer.