简体中文
EnglishWhat Is Write Free Software?
Updated
Write Free Software (writefreesoftware.org) is an educational and advocacy website about free software, not a software product you download or install. Its stated mission is "We build software for everyone," and it frames free software as "a global collaborative movement to build the world's best software in a manner that respects the essential rights and freedoms of its users and authors." If you want to understand the ideas behind free software and find a starting point for learning or contributing, this site is aimed at you. If you are looking for a tool, a code repository, or a hosted service, this is not that.
What the site actually is
The homepage presents the site as an entry point rather than a product. Its visible structure includes:
- Learn — educational material, including an explainer answering "What is free software?"
- Blog — written posts on the topic
- Community — a section for connecting with others in the movement
- Get started — a call to action for newcomers
The core content is conceptual: it defines free software and links to further reading. The site also offers translations, with links to 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese) and Bahasa Indonesia versions visible on the homepage.
The four freedoms it explains
The site's central definition of free software rests on four essential freedoms for users and authors:
- Use — the freedom to use the software
- Study — the freedom to study how it works
- Improve — the freedom to modify it
- Share — the freedom to redistribute it
These four points are the standard framing of free software, and the site uses them as the basis for its explanation. Note that "free" here refers to freedom, not price — the site's own wording ties the concept to rights and freedoms rather than cost.
Who it is for
| If you are… | The site is useful because… |
|---|---|
| New to free software | It gives a plain-language definition and a "get started" path |
| Looking for learning material | The Learn section and blog cover concepts |
| Wanting to join a community | The Community section points you toward others |
| Searching for a specific tool or download | It does not provide one — it is a resource about the movement |
What it is not
Because the name reads like a product or a code project, it is worth being explicit: Write Free Software is a website that explains and promotes free software. It is not a development platform, not a distribution of software, and not a service with accounts. The homepage's own framing — "Free software is a global collaborative movement" — makes clear that the subject is the movement, not a single piece of software.
How to use it
Start on the homepage and follow the "What is free software?" link if you want the definition first, or "Get started" if you already accept the premise and want to act on it. From there, the Learn and Blog sections go deeper, and Community connects you to other people. If English is not your first language, check whether a translation link matches your language before reading further.