Chapter 1. Introduction to Free Software

Welcome to the world of free software! This is a world where you can run excellent, high-quality software, free of charge. In fact, when you read about and start using some of the software I cover in this book, you’ll feel like you are getting paid to use these packages. You could literally save hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars. After all, it is free software.

Don’t be fooled by the high price tags of commercial software, or the nonexistent price tag of this free software. Free software packages can provide the same level of high quality as any equivalent commercial package. Free software programmers are also professionals, sometimes working for large software companies that have chosen to make resources ...

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