FSF
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Software
| Stands for | Free Software Foundation |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
FSF stands for Free Software Foundation, a software abbreviation.
Boston-based nonprofit founded by Richard Stallman in 1985 to promote software freedom. It maintains the GNU licenses (GPL, LGPL, AGPL), supports the GNU Project and defines free software through "four freedoms" to run, study, share and modify programs.
Example: The project's license has been approved by the FSF as a free software license.
Usage notes
The four freedoms are numbered 0 to 3, a programmer's joke about counting from zero. The FSF campaigns against DRM through its "Defective by Design" effort and against software patents. Stallman resigned as president in 2019 and rejoined the board in 2021, a move that prompted public criticism and led several organizations to cut ties.
Related abbreviations
More software abbreviations
- EOL – End of life
- ESR – Extended Support Release
- ESU – Extended Security Updates
- EULA – End-user license agreement
- FLOSS – Free/libre and open-source software
- FOSS – Free and open-source software
- FW – Firmware
- GA – General availability
- GIMP – GNU Image Manipulation Program
- GM – Golden master
- GMS – Google Mobile Services
- GNOME – GNU Network Object Model Environment