1. What Free in Free Software Actually Means

Hey there! Welcome back to Tech Bytes with Pratyay—your weekly shortcut to computer science on the go.

It’s great to be back, and I’m really excited to kick off our new season: Freedom in Code.

My own journey into this idea began during the pandemic, when I first stumbled into the world of open source through Hacktoberfest. I was instantly hooked. But it wasn’t until college that a professor introduced me to something much deeper—the philosophy of freedom. Not just free software, but freedom of software, hardware, and knowledge. That one conversation completely changed how I saw technology. It made me realize that “free” wasn’t just about price tags or open repositories—it was about control and choice.

So, when we see the word “free” next to an app, what does it actually mean? If you think it’s just about getting it at zero cost, you’re only seeing the surface. The real meaning runs much deeper.

Why does that distinction matter? Because this idea shapes nearly everything around us. The phone in your pocket probably runs Android because of it. The web browser you’re using, the servers powering the internet—they all depend on this philosophy to work without massive licensing fees. This isn’t just a nerdy debate about code. It’s about who holds the keys to our digital world. It’s the difference between a car with the hood welded shut, and one you can open up, fix, and even improve yourself.

At its core, free software is defined by a simple phrase: “free as in free speech, not as in free beer.” It’s not about cost—it’s about liberty. When software is truly free, you’re not just handed the finished product. You get the source code—the human-readable recipe behind the app—and along with it, the rights to study, modify, and share it with others.

All of this is protected by something called a license. Think of it like a recipe for a cake. You’re free to bake it for any reason, free to study the recipe and add more chocolate, free to share the original recipe, and even share your improved version with the world. It’s a system built to empower the user, not just the creator.

And this isn’t some fringe idea—it quietly powers our entire digital world. The most famous example is Linux, which runs almost every web server, the entire Android ecosystem, and even rovers on Mars. WordPress, which powers over 40% of the web, is free software too. So are tools like Python, the Apache web server, and the PostgreSQL database. These aren’t side projects—they’re the backbone of modern computing, built on freedom and collaboration.

(Outro music fades in gently)

So, as we wrap up, here’s the takeaway: the concept of free software isn’t just about code—it’s about giving people control over their technology. It’s a philosophy that has fueled some of the most powerful, collaborative projects in the world.

That’s your byte-sized note from Tech Bytes with Pratyay.

Next week, we’ll meet the fiery, controversial, and brilliant founder of the free software movement—Richard Stallman—and uncover the story that started it all.

If something clicked for you today, don’t forget to follow, like, and share! And tell me—what’s a tech concept you wish was explained better? Let’s bust more tech myths together.