Debian Free Software Guidelines
Debian Free Software Guidelines
The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) are a set of guidelines that define what constitutes free software. These guidelines are used by the Debian Project to determine whether a software license is considered "free" and hence can be included in the Debian operating system. The DFSG has become influential beyond Debian, serving as the basis for the Open Source Definition, which is used by the Open Source Initiative.
Origins and Purpose
The Debian Free Software Guidelines were authored by Bruce Perens in 1997 as part of the Debian Social Contract. The purpose of the DFSG is to ensure that all software in Debian is free and adheres to certain ethical and functional standards that promote openness and innovation. This aligns with Debian's commitment to providing a free operating system that empowers users with control over their computing environment.
Key Principles
The DFSG outlines several key principles that a software license must adhere to in order to be considered free:
- Free Redistribution: The license must not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software.
- Source Code: The program must include source code, and it must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form.
- Derived Works: The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the original software.
- Integrity of The Author's Source Code: The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time.
- No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups: The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.
- No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor: The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor.
- Distribution of License: The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties.
- License Must Not Be Specific to Debian: The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a Debian system.
- License Must Not Contaminate Other Software: The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software.
Influence and Legacy
The impact of the Debian Free Software Guidelines extends well beyond the Debian Project. These guidelines were instrumental in the development of the Open Source Definition, thereby playing a substantial role in the broader open-source software movement. The DFSG's influence can be seen in the way many open-source licenses are drafted today, ensuring a consistent standard across various projects and communities.
The DFSG has also been a point of reference in various legal and ethical discussions surrounding free and open-source software, establishing a clear framework that many other projects and organizations have adopted.