1820 Pandora Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 1M5
604-879-GEEK (4335)
OPEN - Tues. ~ Sat.
11:00am - 6:00pm
CLOSED - Sun. Mon.
Why Free Software?
Free Geek is proud to use free and open source software.
There is much discussion on what such a term precisely means. But a good introductory definition is that, simply put, the source code -- or computer language that software is written in -- is not secret, but rather is open to anyone.
With the source code of the software open, users have the right and ability to study, change, and improve its design. Also, the software license that goes along with this type of software often tries to ensure that improvements and sharing remain open as well, so that the community can continue to benefit from collective efforts.
Free and open source software is often distributed and shared without cost (though there are exceptions). It's helpful to remember that the term free is used to emphasize the freedom of individuals and communities, rather than just simple price. It's "free as in free speech, not as in free beer," though it often doesn't cost anything either.
Here are our stated policies related to software:
"We use free and open source software wherever possible, and promote the Free Software philosophy in other ways, such as transparent collaboration with others. The free software philosophy, with its emphasis on mutual assistance and freedom, is important to what we are; all of our software, documentation, and policies are open to whoever wants to avoid reinventing the wheels we've made."
"Free Geek will not distribute non-free and open source software on removable media, over the Internet or installed on hard-drives."
Here are a few in-depth articles that help explain why Free Geek supports free and open source software:
The Ethics of Free Software by Bruce Byfield
The Free Software Foundation Freeing computers and their families since 1985!
Look at the numbers by David A. Wheeler
What is Ubuntu? a free and open operating system based on GNU/Linux
Here are some additional thoughts on GNU/Linux and why we use it:
When you get into your automobile to go from point A to point B, you don't EXPECT to stall every so often when you go out. You EXPECT it to function, and, with maintenance and repairs, you expect it to last a very long time. Knowing that, how can one expect anything less from their computer operating system??? One should not HAVE to reboot to clear memory, do garbage collection on strangling pointers and kill frozen, or misguided processes. Yet we do every day. By purchasing operating systems and "living" with the consequences of substandard programming, without voicing concerns for such problems, we as citizens degrade the technology available to us.
Enter GNU/Linux... a free operating system with the flavouring of Unix, easily capable of running on the same computer you run your commercial software on and more reliably too.
Some of the above text was taken from the Fraser Valley Linux Users Group.
