How To Start Programming Games In Java...

[purpleguitar]

little addition: free software is ALWAYS open source, but open source is NOT ALWAYS free software. what you meant is freeware which shouldn't be confused with free software. yeah, the term "free software" sucks, because of it's various possible interpretations. god, or rms as others call him , suggested the use of free/libre/open source software, FLOSS, but that doesn't sound any better.

I think you meant "open source is ALWAYS free software, but free software is NOT ALWAYS open source".  I could write a piece of software and give it away for free but not give you the source code.

I think you missed the point.  "Free software" does not mean zero cost; it means that you have the freedom to do what you like with the software.  It is therefore necessary to have the source code for the software.   PavelJ had the right definition, but your argument emphasizes the point that our language's ambiguity makes it hard to discuss what Free is.

[PavelJ]

thanks for clarifying, purpleguitar.
for further information it may be worth reading the free software definition of the fsf, http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html, the open source definition of the osi, http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php, and an fsf discussion of both terms, http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html.

[Jeff]

I think the problm is that both the experssions "free software" and "open source" have been coopted by those witha poltical agenda to mean JUST what fits into their agenda.

Btw the FSF and the self described "Open Source Community", George Bush and the religous right Orwell would either by horrified or gratified-- Im not sure which.