Shareware is software that is distributed free on a
trial basis with the understanding that the user may need or want to pay
for it later. Some software developers offer a shareware version of their
program with a built-in expiration date (after 30 days, the user can no
longer get access to the program). Other shareware (sometimes called liteware)
is offered with certain capabilities disabled as an enticement to buy
the complete version of the program.
Programming that is offered at no cost is called freeware. However, it
is copyrighted so that you can't incorporate its programming into anything
you may be developing. The least restrictive "no-cost" programs
are uncopyrighted programs in the public domain software. These include
a number of small UNIX programs. When reusing public domain software in
your own programs, it's good to know the history of the program so that
you can be sure it really is in the public domain.
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