In my recent mullings I realized that I had not (ever) come across a site that had a simple checklist to help on gauge how free a piece of software or device is. So, Why not write one. If some already exist.. Well more is usually better. If none exist then this is over due.

I'll be using the 4 freedoms as expressed by the FSF as a basis for this checklist, with some extension to cover free hardware.

The checklist will be in the form of several yes or no questions. For each yes add one to your score, for each no subtract one from your score. As this is about your rights and freedoms, if you don't know subtract one from your score. I'm assuming you don't know because the creator of the software or device was not clear on the subject and that is always a negative from a freedom standpoint. (source code is no good if you have to travel to an African jungle and look under a heavy rock at the bottom of a pit of vipers to read it.)


Software

This applies to any software that you use. Be it an application or the operating system that runs the application. (i.e. the software that runs your mobile device.) (note: do not answer YES unless it is a fully legal YES. Again, if not sure answer NO)
  1. Can you use the program any way you want to?
  2. Can you give a copy (legally) to a friend?
  3. Can you modify the program to work the way you want?
  4. Can you study how the program works?
  5. Can you sell/share/release the modified version of the program you created?
  6. Can you easily find the source code?
  7. Is the source code publicly available without having to make a special request?
  8. Is the source code written so that you can understand what it does?
  9. Is the source code commented?
  10. Are the tools to compile or run the source code publicly available?

Score of 10 the software is free (as in freedom). Score of -10, Time for an upgrade to something that respects your rights.

Hardware

Things get a little trickier here as Free As In Freedom hardware is a fairly young concept (Note: if you can't answer YES legally then the answer is NO)
  1. Can you use the device any way you want to including ways the creator may not have intended?
  2. Can you modify the device to suit your needs?
  3. Can you review the Schematics and other design documents for the device and it's components?
  4. Can you easily have the device reproduced?
  5. Are the necessary components readily available?
  6. Is the device encumbered by restrictive patents or other licenses?
  7. Is the information on how to load and run firmware and software necessary to run the device readily available?
  8. Is the Software and firmware required to run the device Free (see list above)?
  9. Are the tool necessary to bootstrap a device from bare iron to fully functional readily available and documented?
  10. Are the steps necessary to bootstrap a device from bare iron to fully functional documented?
  11. Are the tools and software need to bootstrap the device Free?

As above the higher the score the better. If you are into large negative numbers you may want to look for a freer alternative.


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