Ubuntu Philosophy (Original)

This page is the original version of the Ubntu project's Philosophy page that was online when Ubuntu launched in September 2004. Please do not edit or change it.

Free Software and Open Source

Ubuntu is a community driven project to create and sustain an operating system and a full set of applications using only Free and Open Source software. At the core of Ubuntu is Free software and Open Source philosophy.

It is Ubuntu's philosophy that every computer users should have the freedom and the ability to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve their software for any purpose.

Our philosophy is reflected in the software we produce and include in our distribution. As a result, the licensing terms of the software we distribute must be compatible with our philosophy. We've provided a list of licensing guidelines to help apply our philosophy to the evaluation of software licenses.

Free Software

For Ubuntu, "free software" is used primarily in reference to freedom and liberty and not to price -- although we are committed to not charging for our distribution as well. To understand free software, its useful to think of the famous phrase in the free software world: "you should think of 'free' as in 'free speech,' not as in 'free beer.'"

Quoting the Free Software Foundation's What is Free Software, the freedoms at the core of free software are defined as:

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others.
• The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that everyone benefits.

Free Software has been a coherent social movement for more than two decades. This movement has produced millions of lines of code, documentation, and a vibrant community of which Ubuntu is proud to be a part.

Open Source

Open Source is a term coined in 1998 to remove the "free beer"/"free speech" ambiguity in the English word "free" and to help make the idea of Free Software more palatable to businesses and other groups. The Open Source Initiative described Open Source software in the Open Source Definition: a lightly modified version of the Debian Free Software Guidelines -- the document that Ubuntu uses at the root of it's own licensing guidelines.

Open Source continues to enjoy growing success and wide recognition. Ubuntu is happy to call itself Open Source.

While some refer to Free and Open Source as competing movements with different ends, we do not see Free and Open software as either distinct or incompatible. Ubuntu proudly includes members who identify with both the Free Software and Open Source camps and many who identify with both.