New Glossary Helps Break Down Common Open Source Related Terms

A couple of months ago, I wrote the first draft of "A Free, Libre and Open Glossary." I am often frustrated by people using terms like "open source" and "free software" loosely, even though they have fixed and clear definitions. There is a web of terms, many of them using ambiguous terms like "open" or "crowd," that frequently confuse and blur the issue.

The glossary is over 5,000 words, which I appreciate is a slog. My hope is that anyone who makes it to the end will never again confuse "crowdsourcing" and "open source" or assume that "free software" costs no money. (For more on the difference between crowdsourcing and open source, see pages 17 and 18 of the PDF).