Software adaptation in an open environment examines various dimensions of softwareadaptation with a brief description on four different freedoms and benefits of using freesoftware. It includes the meaning of free and open source, GPL, describing basic pointsof distinction between the two. It provides a detailed description about the history of freesoftware community. It also provides the reader with the insights into the development ofsoftware world and free software community, so as to understand the actual meaning offree software and how it opposes proprietary software.