Open source embodies freedom, celebrate it this July 4th
As we celebrate another July 4th, let’s take a minute to remember that there is more to the date than a reason to miss work and party. It is the “birthday” of America, yes. But it is also about celebrating our freedom. All of those 225+ years ago men and women were willing to give up everything they had, including their lives, to live as free persons. So before biting into the next hot dog or admiring the pretty fireworks in the sky, take a moment to reflect on what this freedom means to you.
Open source software is about freedom as well. For too many of us, the free in open source is about the price. As has been written before, that is free as in beer. But the real power of open source is the free as in freedom. The ability to take the software code and modify, change and use it as you wish represents, in its own way, a revolution. So the next time you download open source software, take a moment and think about what it means to have free as in freedom in your software as well.
That is it for today. Enjoy your holiday, hot dogs and fireworks. Most of all enjoy your freedom!
