Viewpoint Why "Open Source" Misses the Point of Free Software

Some of the significant factors associated with 'open source software' and 'free software' are discussed. Free software respects the essential freedom of its users, which means freedom to use, study, change, and redistribute copies with or without changes. These freedoms are essential to promote social solidarity and for sharing and co-operating ideas and changes. Schools in India and Spain are now teaching their students how to use the free GNU/LINUX operating systems. Users and developers of free software are working to promote the free software movement to avoid misunderstanding between 'free software' and 'open source'. The term 'open source' is associated with the practice of citing only practical values like making powerful, reliable software. Open source is considered as a development methodology, while free software is considered as a social movement.