 - Shareware is software that is distributed free on a trial basis with the understanding that the user may need or want to pay for it later. Some software developers offer a shareware version of their program with a built-in expiration date (after 30 days, the user can no longer get access to the program). Other shareware (sometimes called liteware) is offered with certain capabilities disabled as an enticement to buy the complete version of the program.
Programming that is offered at no cost is called freeware. However, it is copyrighted so that you can't incorporate its programming into anything you may be developing. The least restrictive "no-cost" programs are uncopyrighted programs in the public domain software. These include a number of small UNIX programs. When reusing public domain software in your own programs, it's good to know the history of the program so that you can be sure it really is in the public domain.
Also see Free Software Foundation and postcardware.
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31 Aug 2005
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