How Coding Agents Could Resurrect Software Freedom

AI coding agents could revive the practical importance of free software by enabling users to read, understand, and modify source code through intelligent automation. During the SaaS era, source code access became a theoretical right rather than a practical capability, as users rarely interacted directly with code. However, if AI agents can manipulate codebases on behalf of any user, source code freedom transforms from a programmer's privilege into a universally accessible power, potentially restoring the fundamental principles Richard Stallman championed decades ago.