Understanding FOSS

Licenses
An Overview of Free and Open Source Software Licenses

~ by Nishant Raj
Introduction to FOSS
• FOSS stands for Free and Open Source Software.

• FOSS has played a vital role in the software industry, driving

innovation and collaboration.
• Free refers to freedom, not necessarily cost. Users have the
freedom to run, modify, and distribute the software.

Freedoms -
• Freedom to Use: Users have the freedom to run the software for
any purpose.
• Freedom to Study: Users can access and examine the source code of
the software.
• Freedom to Modify: Users can adapt and customize the software
according to their needs.

• Freedom to Share: Users can distribute both the original and modified
versions of the software.
What is a FOSS License?
A FOSS license is a legal instrument that governs the use, modification, and distribution of software.

It ensures that the freedoms offered by FOSS are protected and respected.

Without a FOSS license, users may not have the rights to access, modify, or share the software.
Types of FOSS Licenses

Permissive licenses

Permissive licenses, like MIT and BSD, give users extensive freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software.

They have minimal restrictions, allowing users to incorporate the code into proprietary projects.

Copyleft licenses

Copyleft licenses, such as GPL, require derivative works to be distributed under the same license.

This ensures that modifications and improvements to the code remain open source.
 Popular FOSS Licenses

• GNU General Public License (GPL)

• GNU Lesser GPL (LGPL)

• BSD License

• MIT License

• Apache License
1 GNU General Public License (GPL)
GPL is a popular copyleft license that
strongly supports the open-source
philosophy.
The latest version is GNU GPL3
It requires any derivative work to be
released under the same license.
Software like Inkscape, Drupal, Mariadb,
and MySQL are released under this
license.
2 GNU Lesser GPL
The Lesser GPL is a version of GPL used
primarily for software libraries.
It allows for commercial use and
modification, but derivative works must
be distributed under the same license. but
applications that use the library don't
have to be
Software like Linux, GIT, WordPress, and
GTK+ use this license.
Conclusion
In conclusion, FOSS licenses play a vital role in the world of software
development.

They ensure that software remains accessible, modifiable, and redistributable.

Choosing the right FOSS license is crucial for protecting your rights and
contributing responsibly to the FOSS community.