In this manual we report on many different products, which are useful for our work: sometimes we describe freeware, sometimes shareware, sometimes commercial software, thinking of the most widespread types of software in Europe. In these cases we hope to give teachers an overview of the software world and facilitate the choices. It is not our place to advise on whether to buy one or other product: our job is to give suggestions about potential didactic use, with no commercial aim.

In this manual you may have noticed that we have made mention of some software based on Open Source programs, such as Star Office or Open Office, software suites used in schools or other institutions. In some countries an agreement has been signed between Software House (Sun Microsystems) and the National Educational Ministry to implement use of this free software in schools (eg Italy). For further details, see http://www.sun.com. 

It is important to know that Open Source was born in 1998, to make clear to users about "open programs" i.e. software in which source code can be distributed freely and modified by any user. The Linux Operating System follows this idea because any user can implement it. 

Proprietary Software often blocks access to the user from any source code. This is to assure developers about the security of their work, given that the original source code is encrypted and therefore invisible. Open Code software has been developed from public interest as a flexible, useful and free of charge product. So free distribution and open source code are the most important details of the Open Source philosophy but this does not mean there are no user licenses involved. There are specific licenses, such as the GPL (General Public Licence) defined in the Open Source Website pages. For further information about this, see http://www.opensource.org.