r/freesoftware

9.4K archived posts · Jul 2008 – Sep 2026

Free Software - Libre software and formats

r/freesoftware

"Free software" means software that respects users' freedom and community. Roughly, it means that the users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. Thus, "free software" is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of "free" as in "free speech," not as in "free beer".

Created May 7, 2008

29KMembers (last snapshot)

9.4KArchived posts

About

What is Free Software? (read | watch)
Free Software Movement (read | watch)
An example of Why is Free Software Important (animated video)

Resources, links, related subs

r/FSF - Free Software Foundation
r/GNU - operating system and an extensive collection of computer software
r/LinuxLibre - a version of the Linux kernel that doesn't have non-free components
r/Hurd - kernel for the GNU system
r/FOSSdroid - Free Software for the Android platform
r/libreboot - Free Software BIOS and UEFI alternative

Hardware

FSF Certified Hardware that Respects Your Freedom (RYF)
r/hnode - catalog of hardware that works with Free/Libre drivers

Operating Systems

FSF Endorsed Operating Systems that run entirely on Free Software**:**
- [GNU/Linux distributions] (https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html):
  - r/gNewSense - for PC
  - r/Parabola - for PC
  - Hyperbola - for PC
  - r/Guix - for PC
  - r/PureOS - for PC
  - r/Trisquel - for PC
  - r/Dynebolic - for PC
  - r/Dragora - for PC
  - r/Ututo - for PC
  - ProteanOS - for small devices
  - r/libreCMC - for small devices
- Other distributions:
  - r/ReplicantOS - for Android

Campaigns & Ethical Alternatives

DefectiveByDesign - campaign that exposes DRM-encumbered devices and media
r/Antifeatures - against DRM and all antifeatures
The Free JavaScript campaign - websites should work without non-free JavaScript
Secure Boot vs Restricted Boot - freedom to boot a Free OS on the hardware we own
r/DeGoogle - expel Google and their privacy-invasive products from your life
r/PeerTube - libre & decentralized YouTube alternative
Friendica - libre & decentralized Facebook alternative
Pleroma - libre & decentralized Twitter alternative

Single feed of all subs that are listed above.

Chat

For those of you looking for an online chat to discuss about Free Software - we have compiled a list of open source and decentralized places where you can do that.

Disclaimer: we, the mods of r/freesoftware do NOT moderate, represent, endorse, associate with any of the places, rooms, servers etc that we list here. Do your own research before deciding to join and/or participate in any of them.

Movim (through the XMPP protocol):
- floss%40rooms.dismail.de/room
- free_libre_software%40conference.movim.eu/room
Riot (through the Matrix protocol):

Other communities

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