ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of free software

Free software is software that people can use and share for free. It is different from regular software because regular software usually has copyright rules that prevent you from sharing or changing it. Free software was started in the 1980s by a programmer named Richard Stallman who wanted to make sure everyone had access to software. He created the "Free Software Foundation" to promote sharing and collaboration in software development. Since then, many people have contributed to the development of free software, which has become very popular in the tech world. Free software can now be found on our computers, phones, websites, and more! Free software is useful because it allows anyone to access the same software and benefit from it. It is also easier to customize and make it work better for your specific needs.