Open Source and Free Software are the two terms widely used with linux.These terms are normally used for the same concept.But the question is, are they identical? In fact,the answer is NO. But in most of the cases they turn out to be identical. So the next question is Why and How are they different?
In very few cases Open Software will not be a free software, also in some other cases a free software wont be available as open source. As we've heard some softwares freely downloadable but we dont get access to its source code. At the same time microsoft provides some source shared initiatives which are not free. Shared Source concept provides the source but it is illegal to modify or redistribute it.
Open Source which is under the Open Source initiative(OSI) provides the source code of the software which in most of the cases will be free to modify,redistribute in all ways that are socially useful. OSI provides the user with the experience of freedom.
Free Software which is under Free Software Foundation(FSF) provides the software for free, but the source code will remain hidden from the user.FSI provides the user with the concept of freedom. It insists on the term 'free'.
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