Last update March 31, 1999 at 17:00

Public domain and FreeWare
When this distribution mode is selected, usually the programmer releases the program and the source code to anybody, without specting nothing from the user. Normally the user can apply parts of the source code to his own applications, except when this is explicity prohibited in the documentation, program or else where. Freeware only retains the author copyright over the source code or the program, but in general lines it's the same.

ShareWare
When this distribution mode is selected, the programmer usually creates a crippled version of his programm (As known as 'CrippledWare'), in this version one, two, or more fuctions are deactivated, you can use and test the programm for a trial period, usually 1 month; when the trial period has been expirated you may purchase the program if you whant to continue using it. This commercial solution is too cheap to the programmer, and the registration fee is around $50. When you register your copy, the programmer send to you a full operative version or a 'key' that activate the options that you can´t use previously.

Commercial
Commercial mode is the most used by the big companies, you may pay before test the program, wihtout know if it is, or not, what you want...

Other ones
There are a lot of other concepts, like:

BeerWare where you may pay a beer to the programmer when you meet him/her in a pub.
CardWare where you may send a postcard to the programmer in the way that the programmer know how many people is using his application.
MailWare the same, but you may send an E-Mail to the programmer.