Why Linux is Free?

Linux is freeware. Freeware is a software written by somebody and the author doesn’t forbid the free distribution and usage of the software. Linux is a computer operating system, like Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS. Unlike those two, however, Linux is built with a collaborative development model. The operating system and most of its software are created by volunteers and employees of companies, governments and organizations from all over the world. The operating system is free to use and everyone has the freedom to contribute to its development. This co-operative development model means that everyone can benefit. Because of this, we like to call it Free Software, or Socially Responsible Software. Closely related is the concept of Open Source Software. Together, Free and Open Source Software is collectively abbreviated as FOSS.
Benefits of Linux:
Linux has many other benefits, including speed, security and stability. It is renowned for its ability to run well on more modest hardware. Linux comes from the venerable UNIX family of operating systems, and so has been built from the ground-up with Internet-style networking and security in mind. Hence, viruses, worms, spyware and adware are basically a non-issue on Linux. Most Linux distributions support dozens of programming languages.
How Linux is Free?
It can cost time and resources to produce good software, which are not synonymous with money. Many FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) developers develop for fun; many others are paid for their time. Because the code is open, it is actively worked on by all sorts of individuals and organizations. Since development is shared, it can cost relatively little to work with FOSS. The savings made can be invested into creating better customization or into improving integration with existing systems and processes. When access to the source code is available, there are essentially no limitations to what can be achieved. Free Software is so named because of the freedom granted to the user.
The word "free" has two quite different meanings in the English language, and it sometimes leads to misconceptions about the free nature of Linux. These two meanings follow the Latin adjective "liber" and the adverb "gratis," and they are often illustrated with the phrases "free speech" and "free (of charge) beer." Most Linux software is free in both senses, but it is only the first sense which is essential to Linux.
Many quantitative studies of free / open source software focus on topics including market share and reliability, with numerous studies specifically examining Linux. The Linux market is growing rapidly, and the revenue of servers, desktops, and packaged software running Linux was expected to exceed $35.7 billion by 2008.
IDC's (International Data Corporation) 2007 report indicated that Linux held 12.7% of the overall server market at that time. This estimate was based on the number of Linux servers sold by various companies, and did not include server hardware purchased separately which had Linux installed on it later. In September 2008 Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer admitted that 60% of web-servers run Linux versus 40% that run Windows Server.
Primarily based on web server statistics, various companies estimated that the desktop market share of Linux range from less than 1% to 4.8%. In comparison, Microsoft operating systems hold more than 85%. Analysts and proponents attribute the relative success of Linux to its security, reliability, low cost, and freedom.
As everyone can use Linux for being freeware software so many individuals and organizations also donate and invest for Linux’s betterment and customization. Companies have their shares in developing Linux. The market value of Linux is rising so companies invest to get their share. It is also freeware to improve its market value. In the beginning software companies launch freeware software and later on users have to pay for getting the software. Similar is the case with the Linux being freeware. In the long run, investors will get too many benefits.