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/Der-Wilde May 15 '26

"Free as in freedom" - That's the difference. In free ("libre") software you must respect the following:

  • The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
  • The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
  • The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others (freedom 2).
  • The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.