Unlike many software companies that have a huge impact on the world of computing, Linux was created with a more pragmatic goal and somehow more altruistic.
We all know that Linux works with free software. This has been the case since its inception, and the reason is that his goal is to bring technology to as many people as possible, in addition to promoting the work of independent developers.
For this purpose, Linux offers its users total freedom over distributed programs, so that they expand their ecosystem by their own hand. In this, the Linux foundation has very particular policies and philosophies, and we will talk about this in the following paragraphs.
What is free software and what is the philosophy behind the GNU project?
To understand what free software is, you have to establish the difference between free and free. A free software It is the one obtained by a means in which you do not make any payment, however, not all free software is free. A free software, on the other hand, it is not always free, but offers the user the possibility to modify it, improve it, distribute it, analyze it, and even sell it. In short, what defines free software is not the price, but the freedom it provides.
The philosophy of the GNU project, through the application of free software, boils down to giving users all the freedoms over their programs, so that it can be improved and that its usefulness is expanded thanks to the users and, once this is done, they have total freedom to have the program as they wish.
What is the importance of free software and why should all programs be free?
Free software has acquired great importance in recent decades due to the possibilities it offers, and it is not only about being able to modify a program, but also that gives the user complete freedom to make said program do what it is told to do. In contrast to this, applications like Uber, which is free, or Microsoft Office, which requires a payment to be installed, both have one thing in common despite their differences: they have features designed to take away the freedom of the user.
The proprietary applications, as they are called, they are not reproducible or modifiableTherefore, the user can only limit himself to performing the actions that the program allows, without the possibility of modifying it, studying it or giving it a different purpose than the one thought by the programmer. Proprietary software has a series of very restrictive rules that are clearly explained when using it: forbidden to edit, forbidden to distribute, forbidden to reprogram, for which they block users from accessing the source code.
The widespread use of free software, Nevertheless, allows users the ability to have complete control over their virtual environments, in addition to promoting collaboration with the computer community by publishing and distributing their versions of the software, or exact unedited copies.
The proprietary software What are the main injustices of this type of programs and why should they be released?
Proprietary software is just another name for non-free software, that is, to completely restricted software, created and designed by a developer to perform actions that are convenient for himself and for users. One of the biggest disadvantages of proprietary software, is that they can lead to malware, that is, to exercise functionalities that harm users at some level.
There are hundreds of examples of very popular and widespread proprietary programs featuring harmful behaviors for the user. For instance, vulnerabilities discovered at Microsoft that allow remote access to the operating system. There have been very serious cases of security breaches caused by programs such as Google.
This company sometimes performs automatic installations on mobiles or free applications that undergo a “policy modification” to start demanding payment for their use by blocking basic functions. Cases of breaches caused by proprietary software number in the hundreds, and the way to defend against this, is opting for free software as far as possibleas this is the way users have the most control.
Copyleft What is this process to convert the proprietary into free and what is the procedure?
Copyleft It can be defined as a permission granted by the developers of a program for it to be distributed, modified and improved. It should be noted that, While copyleft grants many freedoms, it is closely related to copyright. This relationship is seen when we realize that the original product has distribution clauses that, although they do not affect in any way the freedom that the user has over the program, states that any derivative of it must be distributed as free software.
In many cases, when you purchase a copyleft program, the user seeks to improve it to be redistributed as a proprietary program. That’s when the General Public License (GPL) comes into play that gives the user the option of distributing it as free software or making a profit.
From a certain point of view, copyleft is closely related to pragmatic idealismSince, while a developer can gain more notoriety by opting to privatize their software, is more focused on providing a contribution to the community using free software that can be useful to more people in the future.
These are the steps governments should take to promote free software around the world
Promoting the use of free software is one of the best ways to ensure computer freedom for a community.
So there are many measures that the state can take to spread and motivate the use of free software:
Teach only free software
State educational institutions, at all levels, should instruct students in the use of free software, dictating the appropriate programming and development courses. Under no circumstances should students initiate the use of proprietary software. Besides this, the philosophy and reasoning behind the stance against proprietary software should be taught, so that students understand the civic reasons for which the use of free software is promoted.
Never demand the use of programs that are not free
Public laws in the area of information technology and technological development have very ambiguous policies regarding the use of proprietary software, since many branches of the public sector carry their digital activities through some proprietary application. For this reason, a change in the laws is necessary so that, no company, public or private, is put under pressure to use proprietary software, as well as discouraging registration, communication or publication practices that involve its use.
Distribute only free software
The state must begin to promote the use of free software both in education and work, so it is necessary to implement the distribution of distros in a massive way. This distribution must be made through the state’s web pages, you must ensure that the offered programs work as free software and run on an exclusive platform for open source software.
Free formats and protocols
The state must distribute its multimedia propaganda in formats and protocols correctly supported by free software. For example, you should avoid the distribution of videos that the tool requires Flash for reproduction. The government should encourage the use of communication formats that meet the specifications required by free software, and promote its use for the preparation of reports and works that respect freedom.
Separate computers from licenses
The application of a standardized quota each time a computer is acquired is completely normalized, since This charge represents the payment for the license of the proprietary software that is included in the computer. This payment represents another unfair advantage for proprietary software developers, who profit from the loss of freedom of the user who acquires their software.
That is why sellers should legally offer the option to purchase the computer without the proprietary software included, which would save the customer the license fee.
Go to free software
All public and state-owned entities must migrate their operations to free software, and completely eliminate proprietary software from your processes, with only a few exceptions and temporarily. In this aspect, it will be necessary to designate an agency that fulfills the purpose of authorizing exceptions for the use of proprietary software. It will be the objective of this agency, in addition, to supervise the evolution of free software until the number of exceptions reaches zero.
Develop free computing solutions
State-endorsed software development contracts must contain a clause that ensures that, once the new IT solution is finished, it is published as free software. All employment contracts must maintain this clause, making it clear to the developer that, If you do not agree to publish the solution as free software, you will not be paid for the work.
Select equipment suitable for free software
When selecting computers or computer equipment, whether for educational or work use, the state institution in charge must select, from the available options, the teams that are better able to function in the absence of proprietary software. Also, when selecting these models, the State should prioritize the models that are available to the general public, and promote its use, so that teams can reach as many people as possible.
Encourage what is free
The state should take a more active role in encouraging developers to create, improve and disseminate free software, at the same time that it stimulates its use in both state and private companies. The use of free software in companies and enterprises you will be rewarded with deductions on tax payments, or other fiscal, and economic incentives.
Do not encourage what is not free
The use of proprietary software will be contraindicated, so that educational institutions will not use any as a teaching method under any circumstances. Proprietary software developers will not be able to donate their software, or charge for the face value of the software license. In summary, the idea is to promote the use of free software so that it gradually replaces proprietary software in all aspects of people’s daily lives, in which it has dominance.