Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

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Adcock
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Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by Adcock »

Starting from Here.

'Open' as a single word may have many meanings.
But 'Open Source' may not mean any of that.
The definition is just a definition.
Is anybody legally bounded to follow those?

But can one change the meaning of the word 'Libre'?
Even if one defines 'Libre' differently in her/his license would s/he be able to use it normally like people do everyday.

'Open Source' can at least ( to me ) mean two things :
a) Source code is available for viewing.
b) It is FOSS.

We ( including me ) ( almost always ) take (b) for granted.

Libre means freedom.
If one means something else then s/he,
I think would have to specifically mention it ( in their license ).

In short I think that it is easy to fool using 'Open Source' but it may not be easy with 'Libre'.

Therefore I think that we must refer to ReactOS as Free ( Libre ) Software and not as Open Source Software.

If we say ReactOS is Open Source,
that won't change what ReactOS is.
It is and always will be FOSS.
But it could change our point of view and people would learn to value freedom more.
And make people more conscious about the importance of FOSS.

Note : FOSS = F(L)OSS = FLOSS ( In my opinion )

If the title feels Inappropriate then moderators,
please correct it.
Open Your Windows To Freedom
shunesburg
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by shunesburg »

The problem is "Libre" is not an English word but a French one.
In English, "Free" has two meaning :
- Free (of charge)
- Free(dom)

But the word Liberty, exist in English and can be used.

To avoid the misunderstood, we can said :
ReactOS is a free of charge, open source and liberty software.
karlexceed
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by karlexceed »

shunesburg wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:42 pm The problem is "Libre" is not an English word but a French one.
In English, "Free" has two meaning :
- Free (of charge)
- Free(dom)
Libre is an English word (borrowed from French). It's not common to hear, but it still counts. ;)

There's a common phrase in English-speaking FOSS software communities, "Free as in beer, and free as in speech."
shunesburg wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:42 pm ReactOS is a free of charge, open source and liberty software.
Unfortunately, "liberty" as used in this sentence doesn't make sense to my ear. "Liberated" may make more sense, but still sounds a bit funny.
PurpleGurl
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by PurpleGurl »

Liberty-based, perhaps.
learn_more
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by learn_more »

karlexceed wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 3:18 am
shunesburg wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:42 pm The problem is "Libre" is not an English word but a French one.
In English, "Free" has two meaning :
- Free (of charge)
- Free(dom)
Libre is an English word (borrowed from French). It's not common to hear, but it still counts. ;)

There's a common phrase in English-speaking FOSS software communities, "Free as in beer, and free as in speech."
shunesburg wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:42 pm ReactOS is a free of charge, open source and liberty software.
Unfortunately, "liberty" as used in this sentence doesn't make sense to my ear. "Liberated" may make more sense, but still sounds a bit funny.
beer is not free, unless you steal it.
karlexceed
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by karlexceed »

learn_more wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 5:19 pm beer is not free, unless you steal it.
Or if someone gives it to you?
learn_more
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by learn_more »

karlexceed wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:18 pm
learn_more wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 5:19 pm beer is not free, unless you steal it.
Or if someone gives it to you?
And how did they come by it?
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Adcock
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by Adcock »

Maybe by preparing it themselves.
Note : Free Beer.
shunesburg
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by shunesburg »

karlexceed wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 3:18 am Unfortunately, "liberty" as used in this sentence doesn't make sense to my ear. "Liberated" may make more sense, but still sounds a bit funny.
For "Liberty", see the dictionary:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dicti ... sh/liberty

And for the "Libre" word, I'm pretty sure is only a borrow of French for few American people. I just heard French people used it (I'm French after all) and the only English people that used it is for said "LibreOffice" and often they don't know how pronounced it.
karlexceed
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by karlexceed »

learn_more wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:57 pm And how did they come by it?
I was simply pointing out a common phrase used to illustrate the different meanings of the word "free" when used in an acronym like FOSS. I'm not trying to argue about "what free really means".
shunesburg wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:56 pm For "Liberty", see the dictionary:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dicti ... sh/liberty

And for the "Libre" word, I'm pretty sure is only a borrow of French for few American people. I just heard French people used it (I'm French after all) and the only English people that used it is for said "LibreOffice" and often they don't know how pronounced it.
Thank you, I know the meanings of the word. But nothing in the link you provided makes the sentence that you had previously written sound more correct. "Liberty" is a noun, but your previous sentence uses it as if it were an adjective.

If you insist that the word "liberty" is used instead of "libre", then you could say something like, "ReactOS is software that embodies liberty," or, "You have liberty to do almost anything with ReactOS."
Julcar
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by Julcar »

I preffer the term "costless" for anything that is given to you by no cost or fee, i.e. freeware
PurpleGurl
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by PurpleGurl »

Julcar wrote: Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:03 am I preffer the term "costless" for anything that is given to you by no cost or fee, i.e. freeware
But that is not what anyone is referring to here. We mean freedom as in liberty, not free as in free beer. That is why "libre" appears in the title. "Free Software" by that proper name refers to the freedom you have, not the price, though yes, most open source stuff is also free as in cost to end users.
middings
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by middings »

I really don't want to see the acronym GLOSS (Gratis Libre Open Source Software) brought back from the dead.
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Adcock
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by Adcock »

Never heard of it. :|
shunesburg
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Re: Why ReactOS is Free ( Libre ) software?

Post by shunesburg »

middings wrote: Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:13 am I really don't want to see the acronym GLOSS (Gratis Libre Open Source Software) brought back from the dead.
"Open" = unclosed

"Gratis" is rarely used but exist in English, but "Libre" is not a English word (it's not in the English dictionary).

Synonym of "Free" with "Libre" meaning: delivered, enfranchised, liberated, emancipated

ReactOS is Unclosed, Gratis and Emancipated Software.
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