Ex. a [http://almadormida.blogspot.com/2005/12/herramientas-gratuitas.html list] of the allegedly best freeware for 2005, compiled by someone I do not know or met.
[common] Free software, often written by enthusiasts and distributed by users' groups, or via electronic mail, local bulletin boards, Usenet, or other electronic media. '''At one time, `freeware' was a trademark of Andrew Fluegelman, the author of the well-known MS-DOS comm program PC-TALK III. It wasn't enforced after his mysterious disappearance and presumed death in 1984.'''
Variations on the "-ware" concept:
{{Jargon}}
* ShareWare--can use free; if you like it, please pay
* CrippleWare--can use free; if you like it, pay and you'll receive a code that activates some "crippled" features (usually ability to [[printer|print]] or to use advanced functions)
* PostcardWare--can use free; but please send a postcard
* BeerWare--can use free; but either (1) send the programmer enough money for a [[beer]], or (2) raise a beer in toast to the programmer yourself
* CharityWare--can use free; but make a donation to your or the programmer's favorite charity
* HugWare--can use free; but give someone a hug
* Cherware--can use free; but have to listen to "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" while using it (OK, we made that one up...)
* AbearWare--What's abearware? A fur coat! (OK, we'll stop now.)[[fnord|.]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Computer]]
Revision as of 19:18, 11 April 2006
freeware n.
[common] Free software, often written by enthusiasts and distributed by users' groups, or via electronic mail, local bulletin boards, Usenet, or other electronic media. At one time, `freeware' was a trademark of Andrew Fluegelman, the author of the well-known MS-DOS comm program PC-TALK III. It wasn't enforced after his mysterious disappearance and presumed death in 1984.
This page contains content copied from the Jargon File written by Eric Raymond and released into the public domain to be freely used, shared, and modified.