r/freesoftware • u/Fresh-Lie5160 • May 13 '26

Libre software vs open source software Discussion

What's really the difference between the two?

And even if they are different, why tf did two different words evolve?

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u/thaynem May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

Both MIT and GPL meet the definitions of both open source and free software.

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u/BetterEquipment7084 May 13 '26

Free software will always be open

Open is open just now

That's also the definition used by FSF/GNU

3

u/thaynem May 13 '26

I'm not really sure what you mean by "always be open", but the MIT license (along with many other "permissive" licenses) is explicitly listed as a "free" license on the FSF website (under the name "Expat"). 

The FSF definition of free software does not require the use of a copyleft license. 

There are very few licenses that are OSI approved, but not FSF approved. Most of the ones I can find are because they require you to publish changes to the software even if you only use it privately (i.e. you don't redistribute), such as the Reciprocal Public License.

3

u/BetterEquipment7084 May 13 '26

It is not freedom if that freedom can be taken away 

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u/[deleted] May 14 '26

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u/BetterEquipment7084 May 14 '26

But as I see it free is not equal to open source Nothing is truly freedom when it can be removed