Free software or swatantra/libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with minimal restrictions only to ensure that further recipients are also guranteed these freedoms.

The free software movement was conceived in 1983 by Richard Stallman to make these freedoms available to every computer user. Since free software may be freely redistributed, it generally is available at little or no cost.

This nature of free software has given enormous innovative potential for students to increase their technical capabilities. Today, world wide a large number of students and programmers contribute to Gnu/Linux.

The industry also has been a huge beneficiary of free software, companies like Redhat , Google, IBM , Sun Micro Systems use and contribute to free software. Virtually there is nothing that runs without free software : google , firefox , gdb ,gcc , emacs to name a few.

We are a team of individuals from the IT-Education sectors involved in various free software related technical activities in Karnataka. Our interest is in strengthening the technical skills of our students and professionals using the various possibilities of free software.