Free As In Beer: Pondicherry Edition

Gratis vs Libre is an age-old debate. In the context of software, it takes on a deep connotation, the phrase “Free as in Freedom And Free as in Beer” being used to denote the various liberties that can be exercised by contributors and consumers alike.

In this talk, I aim to explore the history of free software. Beginning with the hacker culture of the 1960s, founding Unix in the 70s, the GNU movement of the 80s, the Linux moment of the 90s, culminating in the Cambrian explosion of open communities in the years that followed. Today, open source can mean a marketing tool, a way to synthesise digital products effectively, and also a means for the community to come together. As this story comes together, I'll delve into the subtle but crucial difference between "gratis" (free of charge) and "libre" (free as in freedom), examining how this distinction has influenced software development, licensing, and user empowerment — and how it affects each one of us.