My Top FLOSS Applications (2007-2008)
As my 2007 year ender post (Part 1) and year starter post (Part 2), I listed down my 23 Top FLOSS Applications for Microsoft Windows. What is FLOSS you ask? It stands for “Free/Libre Open-Source Software”, libre is a Spanish and French word which is about “freedom”.
In the hacking world we explain it in these few simple words: Libre is: “Free as-in free speech” NOT “Free as-in free beer“. For the modern world, I just say, “Libre is: Freedom NOT free-of-charge” or “FLOSS or Free Software (FS) and Open-Source Software (OSS) is: Freedom NOT free-of-charge”.
That is exactly what FLOSS is, that is exactly what “Free Software” and “Open-Source Software” is all about – our “FREEDOM”, and those of us who stand at the middle of these two school-of-thoughts refer to it as FLOSS or Free/Libre Open-Source Software (some call it “FOSS” but “FLOSS” is more widely used and is more clear internationally).
So what are My Top FLOSS Applications for Microsoft Windows?
Read Part 1 here
Read Part 2 here
* “Free Software” and “Open-Source Software” are not to be confused with “freeware” and “shareware”. FLOSS applications will more likely refer to themselves as FS, Free Software, Open-Source Software, OSS, FOSS, or FLOSS.
* Freeware is more appropriately called as gratis software (gratis means free-of-charge)
* FLOSS are mostly gratis software at the same time but there are FLOSS applications that are not. Thus, do not brand a non-gratis FLOSS as ‘fake’ or have false claims.
* Not all freeware/gratis software are FLOSS. There are many freeware/gratis software out there that are being branded by sites, reviewers, and forum posts, as FLOSS when these are not.
* Always check the software’s license to confirm if the said product is a genuine FLOSS application or not.
