Shruti Speak's

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 licence fee should be paid. Shareware is not the same thing as free and open source software (FOSS) for the two main reasons: 1.        The source are not   available 2.        Modification to the software is not allowed. The objective of shareware is to make the software available to try as many users as possible. This is done in order to increase prospective user’s will to pay for the software.  The software is distributed in binary form and often includes a built-in timed mechanism, which usually limits functionally after a trial period of usually one to three months.

FREEWARE The term freeware has no clear definition, but 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 source or for free software. Freeware is distributing in binary form without any licensing fee.In some instances the right to use the software is limited to certain types of users, for instances, for private and non –commercial purposes.   Freeware is often used in marketing situations in order to sell additional products and to gain market advantages. One example is Microsoft Internet Explorer, which is made available as freeware. PROPREITORY 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 propri

W3C W3C is a acronym for World Wide Web Consortium. W3C is responsible for producing the software standards for World Wide Web. The w3c was created in OCT 1994, to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by creating by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability.    

OSI OSI is open source initiative. It is an organisation dedicated to cause of promoting open source software. Bruce Parens and Erics Raymond were the founders of OSI , that was founded in february 1998. OSI specifies the criteria for open source software and properly defines the terms and specifications of open source software.Open source doesn’t just mean access to the source code. The distribution terms of open source software must comply with the open source software.

FSF FSF is Free Software Foundation. FSF is a non-profit organisation created for the purpose of supporting free software movement. It was founded FSF in 1985 to support GNU project and GNU licenses. FSF has funded many software developers to write free software. Now a days, it also works on legal and structural issues for the free software community.

GNU GNU refers to GNU’s Not Unix. GNU project emphasizes on freedom and thus its logotype shows a gnu, an animal living in freedom. The GNU project was initiated by Richard M Stallman with an objective to create a system compatible to Unix but not identical with it. With time, GNU project expanded and now it is not limited to only an operating system. Now, it offers a wide range of software, including applications apart from operating system. To understand the role and contribution of GNU in free and open source software, you should be aware of its background. But if we give the history of GNU project, we shall be going beyond the scope.