What is Free software?

Free software is a matter of liberty, not price, so think of it in terms of "Free speech" rather than "free beer".

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).

- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).

- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

Please visit the Free Software Foundation* or GNU* homepage for information about why software should be Free.

*The GNU's Not Unix! BOINC team in no way affiliated or endorsed by the FSF or GNU project