sourceware

English

Etymology

From source +‎ -ware.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

sourceware (uncountable)

1. (software, dated) A precursor of open source software.

   Coordinate term: freedomware

   • 2005, Sys Admin: The Journal for UNIX System Administrators, page 48:

     And last of the “open software”, a rarer implementation is sourceware. A variation of freedomware, sourceware offers “open source” code with “closed (proprietary) standards”.

   • 2009, Glyn Moody, Rebel Code: Linux and the Open Source Revolution‎^[1], Hachette UK, →ISBN:

     Because McVoy was trying to avoid recourse to the “customer solution” of NT, that left the programmers' solution: free software, or “sourceware,” as he termed it.

   • [2009, Andrew Stellman, Jennifer Greene, quoting Tim O'Reilly, Beautiful Teams: Inspiring and Cautionary Tales from Veteran Team Leaders, O'Reilly Media, →ISBN, page 4:

     And we said, “We're all going to agree on one name, and we're all going to start using it.” We voted on “sourceware” versus “open source,” and “open source” won. We had the press conference at five, and the rest is history.]