The phrase doesn’t exactly go together does it? Linux, the epitome of free and open source software or FOSS used in the same sentence as proprietary software. Just doesn’t sound right does it? Well, they do go hand in hand. Follow along as I explore this topic of heated debate.

There are those Linux aficionados (ie:someone who is very interested in and enthusiastic about a particular subject) that say that proprietary software has no place in Linux. That Linux distros should be “clean” as in no proprietary software what so ever. Not even any available for download by any package manager of any kind.

Fine. I can understand their point that Linux was in part developed to be completely free without any constraints, to do with as one wishes. The below is taken from Linux.org’s home page:

Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers around the world. Developed under the GNU General Public License , the source code for Linux is freely available to everyone. Click on the link below to find out more about the operating system that is causing a revolution in the world of computers.

So, let’s see why an end-user would even want to use any proprietary software.

Let’s say that you are a Windows XP user and that you’re tired of viruses, crashes, constant harassment from M/S to validate your copy of the OS, etc. You decide that you want to give Linux a try because you’ve been hearing all this hoopla about how it’s free, all these neat pieces of software come with it and just how much more secure it is compared to Windows.

So, after you do some research you decide on a distro, download it, burn it to a CD/DVD and install it only to find that none of your music or movies will play, you can’t watch anything with Flash in it because the browser didn’t come with the available plugin(s) to enable it nor any to watch any of the different file formats out there like Quicktime or RealPlayer. Not even anything Java-related will work. WTF!!

This is unacceptable! Where do they come off saying this OS is so good that it will take Windows place one day? Not like this it won’t!

Beginning to see where this is going? Good.

Thus began the inclusion of proprietary software in one form or fashion. This was the way that the varying distros of Linux are able to bring in new users from the Windows or Mac camps. After all, these people were used to just playing what they wanted on their computers whether it was a movie, their music, a Flash presentation or what not.

How would you have reacted, allowing for complete newness to anything Linux, to an OS that had nothing in it to be able to do the same things that you were capable of in your old Windows/Mac machine? Pretty much the same I’d bet.

Maybe now some people would be a bit more understanding of things like EULA’s or confirmation dialog’s that make sure you understand acknowledgement of downloading proprietary software, plugins, codecs, etc. Without these, Linux would be left hanging with their collective butts in the breeze legaly speaking.

That and there wouldn’t be much interest in a free OS that one couldn’t do the same with as Windows or Mac. The Linux distros had to do what they have in order to appease the many who have made the switch. To help the new user incorporate their music, their videos, their very lives into a new OS.

Some may disagree with it’s inclusion. That’s fine. They have the option to NOT include it in their lives. That’s another thing why I like Linux. It allows me the freedom of choice just the same as anyone else. To do with it as I like. Not as some large corporate entity likes.

So, if you need proprietary software to make your life easier or better, then it’s your choice. If not, then that too is your choice. Linux only makes it available. They don’t force you to use it. It’s freedom of choice.