Vapaaohjelmasta

Vapaaohjelmasta refers to the concept of free software in Finnish. It is software that guarantees users four essential freedoms: the freedom to run the program for any purpose, the freedom to study how the program works and adapt it to their needs, the freedom to redistribute copies, and the freedom to improve the program and release those improvements to the public so that everyone benefits. This contrasts with proprietary software, where these freedoms are typically restricted.

The free software movement was initiated by Richard Stallman in the early 1980s, with the goal of creating a community where software could be freely shared and modified. The GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation were established to promote this philosophy and develop free software. A key component of free software is the use of specific licenses, such as the GNU General Public License (GPL), which legally ensure these freedoms are upheld.

While often used interchangeably with "open source," the term "free software" emphasizes the ethical and philosophical aspects of user freedom, whereas "open source" focuses more on the practical benefits of collaborative development and transparency. Both concepts are vital in the software world, fostering innovation and providing alternatives to closed-source commercial products. Many operating systems, programming languages, and applications are available under free software licenses.