Free Software Foundation
Overview
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a nonprofit organization with a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom and to defend the rights of all free software users. Established in 1985 by Richard Stallman, the FSF is dedicated to promoting the universal freedom to study, distribute, create, and modify computer software. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software, particularly the GNU operating system, and free documentation for free software.
History
The Free Software Foundation was founded in 1985 as part of a global movement for free software. The FSF's founder, Richard Stallman, launched the GNU Project in 1983 to create a Unix-like computer operating system composed entirely of free software. The FSF was created to support the GNU Project and to promote the ideals of free software.
Philosophy
The Free Software Foundation subscribes to the philosophy of free software, which is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with minimal restrictions only to ensure that further recipients can also do these things. This philosophy is often illuminated by the FSF through a series of campaigns, initiatives, and speeches.
Projects and Initiatives
The Free Software Foundation has initiated several projects to promote, protect, and expand free software. These include the GNU Project, the GNU General Public License (GPL), and the GNU Free Documentation License (FDL). The FSF also provides a source code repository, developer support, and educational materials for free software developers.
Impact and Influence
The Free Software Foundation has had a significant impact on the software industry, influencing a number of major projects and initiatives. The FSF's philosophy of free software has been a major influence on the open-source software movement, and the GNU GPL, one of the FSF's main projects, is the most widely used free software license, which has set legal precedent in many jurisdictions.
Criticisms and Controversies
While the Free Software Foundation has been instrumental in the promotion of free software, it has also been the subject of criticism and controversy. Some of these criticisms relate to the FSF's views on proprietary software, digital rights management, and the organization's handling of certain high-profile incidents.