Introduction to open source software
Sebastian Rahtz
OSS Watch
May 2005, Timor Leste
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 1 / 20
Welcome
I am Sebastian Rahtz:
Information Manager for Oxford University Computing Services
Manager of OSS Watch, the UK national Open Source Advisory
Service
[Link]@[Link]
OSS Watch provides unbiased advice and guidance about free and
open source software for UK further and higher education.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 2 / 20
Technically, what does Open Source mean?
Software for which:
the source code is available to the end-user;
the source code can be modied by the end-user;
there are no restrictions on redistribution or use;
the licensing conditions are usually intended to facilitate
continued re-use and wide availability of the software, in both
commercial and non-commercial contexts;
the cost of acquisition to the end-user is often minimal.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 3 / 20
Technically, what does Open Source mean?
Software for which:
the source code is available to the end-user;
the source code can be modied by the end-user;
there are no restrictions on redistribution or use;
the licensing conditions are usually intended to facilitate
continued re-use and wide availability of the software, in both
commercial and non-commercial contexts;
the cost of acquisition to the end-user is often minimal.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 3 / 20
Technically, what does Open Source mean?
Software for which:
the source code is available to the end-user;
the source code can be modied by the end-user;
there are no restrictions on redistribution or use;
the licensing conditions are usually intended to facilitate
continued re-use and wide availability of the software, in both
commercial and non-commercial contexts;
the cost of acquisition to the end-user is often minimal.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 3 / 20
Technically, what does Open Source mean?
Software for which:
the source code is available to the end-user;
the source code can be modied by the end-user;
there are no restrictions on redistribution or use;
the licensing conditions are usually intended to facilitate
continued re-use and wide availability of the software, in both
commercial and non-commercial contexts;
the cost of acquisition to the end-user is often minimal.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 3 / 20
Technically, what does Open Source mean?
Software for which:
the source code is available to the end-user;
the source code can be modied by the end-user;
there are no restrictions on redistribution or use;
the licensing conditions are usually intended to facilitate
continued re-use and wide availability of the software, in both
commercial and non-commercial contexts;
the cost of acquisition to the end-user is often minimal.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 3 / 20
Virtues of free and open source software
It has no secrets: the innards are available for anyone to inspect
It is not privately controlled: so likely to promote open rather
than proprietary formats
It is typically maintained by communities rather than single
corporations: so bug xes and enhancement are often frequent
and free
It is usually distributed free of charge (developers make their
money from support, training, customisation and specialist
add-ons; not marketing)
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 4 / 20
Virtues of free and open source software
It has no secrets: the innards are available for anyone to inspect
It is not privately controlled: so likely to promote open rather
than proprietary formats
It is typically maintained by communities rather than single
corporations: so bug xes and enhancement are often frequent
and free
It is usually distributed free of charge (developers make their
money from support, training, customisation and specialist
add-ons; not marketing)
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 4 / 20
Virtues of free and open source software
It has no secrets: the innards are available for anyone to inspect
It is not privately controlled: so likely to promote open rather
than proprietary formats
It is typically maintained by communities rather than single
corporations: so bug xes and enhancement are often frequent
and free
It is usually distributed free of charge (developers make their
money from support, training, customisation and specialist
add-ons; not marketing)
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 4 / 20
Virtues of free and open source software
It has no secrets: the innards are available for anyone to inspect
It is not privately controlled: so likely to promote open rather
than proprietary formats
It is typically maintained by communities rather than single
corporations: so bug xes and enhancement are often frequent
and free
It is usually distributed free of charge (developers make their
money from support, training, customisation and specialist
add-ons; not marketing)
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 4 / 20
Clearing up misunderstandings
Free software is not the same as free beer. Open source
software may or may not cost money
The cost of ownership often bears little relation to the cost of
acquiring a piece of software
Open source software is strictly in the legal framework of
copyright and licensing. It is not about pirating software, or
giving things away
Open source software does not mandate exclusivity. You can
use open source programs under Windows (eg The OpenCD)
People do not choose software solely on the basis of open
source. Interoperability and open standards for data are equally
important
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 5 / 20
Clearing up misunderstandings
Free software is not the same as free beer. Open source
software may or may not cost money
The cost of ownership often bears little relation to the cost of
acquiring a piece of software
Open source software is strictly in the legal framework of
copyright and licensing. It is not about pirating software, or
giving things away
Open source software does not mandate exclusivity. You can
use open source programs under Windows (eg The OpenCD)
People do not choose software solely on the basis of open
source. Interoperability and open standards for data are equally
important
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 5 / 20
Clearing up misunderstandings
Free software is not the same as free beer. Open source
software may or may not cost money
The cost of ownership often bears little relation to the cost of
acquiring a piece of software
Open source software is strictly in the legal framework of
copyright and licensing. It is not about pirating software, or
giving things away
Open source software does not mandate exclusivity. You can
use open source programs under Windows (eg The OpenCD)
People do not choose software solely on the basis of open
source. Interoperability and open standards for data are equally
important
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 5 / 20
Clearing up misunderstandings
Free software is not the same as free beer. Open source
software may or may not cost money
The cost of ownership often bears little relation to the cost of
acquiring a piece of software
Open source software is strictly in the legal framework of
copyright and licensing. It is not about pirating software, or
giving things away
Open source software does not mandate exclusivity. You can
use open source programs under Windows (eg The OpenCD)
People do not choose software solely on the basis of open
source. Interoperability and open standards for data are equally
important
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 5 / 20
Clearing up misunderstandings
Free software is not the same as free beer. Open source
software may or may not cost money
The cost of ownership often bears little relation to the cost of
acquiring a piece of software
Open source software is strictly in the legal framework of
copyright and licensing. It is not about pirating software, or
giving things away
Open source software does not mandate exclusivity. You can
use open source programs under Windows (eg The OpenCD)
People do not choose software solely on the basis of open
source. Interoperability and open standards for data are equally
important
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 5 / 20
The well-known examples
Linux operating system
Apache web server
Mozilla web browser and email client
Perl, Python and PHP scripting languages
MySQL database
OpenOce oce suite
uPortal portal framework
Gimp picture editor
Moodle Virtual Learning Environment
Ubuntu desktop distribution
in the education sector, open source oerings exist in most areas of
networked services and end-user applications. MIS applications are
less mature.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 6 / 20
Desktops?
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 7 / 20
Oce?
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 8 / 20
Diagrams?
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 9 / 20
Games?
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 10 / 20
Email?
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 11 / 20
Spreadsheet?
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 12 / 20
Virtual Learning Environment?
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 13 / 20
The current practical picture
Browser Good
Desktop OS Acceptable
Content Management Systems Good
Digital library services Good
Email Good
Integrated groupware Acceptable
Library catalogues Weak
Network services Good
Oce suite Acceptable
Payroll Weak
Scientic workstation Good
Student administration Weak
VLE & portal Good
Being possible does not make it the right choice
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 14 / 20
Open source is a development methodology
Programmer commitment, because the programmers work on
the software they need
Rapid change, because programmers want to see results
Unconstrained specications, because there is no external client
Collective responsibility for the code
Response to change, dictated by (perhaps unexpected) use
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 15 / 20
Open source is about community
developer
end-user
developer-user
deployer
Those who merely deploy open source software are also part of the
open source community
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 16 / 20
Why do people keep working on open source?
The desire to learn technical skills by joining an open project is
strong. Typical reasons for staying in open source are:
improving skills: 32%
ideology: 31%
seeking recognition: 12%
improving software: 24%
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 17 / 20
Why do companies work in open source?
implementation of open standards might as well be done in a
shared way to save costs
pyramidal consulting works: using open software means that
your support team are spared the 80% of questions which are
easy, leaving you the remaining 20%
making needed improvements only to open source is
economically ecient. Work on the things you care about
the revenue margin on licences is 85%, on support 54%; eg IBM
and Novell are now depending more on services than licensing
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 18 / 20
Open source is about conict and change
Our industry has an almost totally monopolistic provider:
Good? Bad?
.NET Single framework No room for choice
Oce It does everything It has insucient security barriers
Windows A smooth upgrade path No room for innovation
It is hard to decide whether this is good or bad
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 19 / 20
Why should Timor care about open source?
1
Saving money. You can build good systems without paying a lot
of money. Everyone can have a copy.
2
Training. Timor needs good software engineers. Open source
lowers the barrier to getting involved in real development
3
Localisation. Timor has its own languages and culture, which
should be reected in the software used in schools and
businesses. Microsoft will not write a spell checker for Fataluco.
4
Control. Use software you can inuence the direction of, which
does not leave you at the mercy of big companies.
5
Community. Timorese people can work as equals on projects
around the world, and inuence the future.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 20 / 20
Why should Timor care about open source?
1
Saving money. You can build good systems without paying a lot
of money. Everyone can have a copy.
2
Training. Timor needs good software engineers. Open source
lowers the barrier to getting involved in real development
3
Localisation. Timor has its own languages and culture, which
should be reected in the software used in schools and
businesses. Microsoft will not write a spell checker for Fataluco.
4
Control. Use software you can inuence the direction of, which
does not leave you at the mercy of big companies.
5
Community. Timorese people can work as equals on projects
around the world, and inuence the future.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 20 / 20
Why should Timor care about open source?
1
Saving money. You can build good systems without paying a lot
of money. Everyone can have a copy.
2
Training. Timor needs good software engineers. Open source
lowers the barrier to getting involved in real development
3
Localisation. Timor has its own languages and culture, which
should be reected in the software used in schools and
businesses. Microsoft will not write a spell checker for Fataluco.
4
Control. Use software you can inuence the direction of, which
does not leave you at the mercy of big companies.
5
Community. Timorese people can work as equals on projects
around the world, and inuence the future.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 20 / 20
Why should Timor care about open source?
1
Saving money. You can build good systems without paying a lot
of money. Everyone can have a copy.
2
Training. Timor needs good software engineers. Open source
lowers the barrier to getting involved in real development
3
Localisation. Timor has its own languages and culture, which
should be reected in the software used in schools and
businesses. Microsoft will not write a spell checker for Fataluco.
4
Control. Use software you can inuence the direction of, which
does not leave you at the mercy of big companies.
5
Community. Timorese people can work as equals on projects
around the world, and inuence the future.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 20 / 20
Why should Timor care about open source?
1
Saving money. You can build good systems without paying a lot
of money. Everyone can have a copy.
2
Training. Timor needs good software engineers. Open source
lowers the barrier to getting involved in real development
3
Localisation. Timor has its own languages and culture, which
should be reected in the software used in schools and
businesses. Microsoft will not write a spell checker for Fataluco.
4
Control. Use software you can inuence the direction of, which
does not leave you at the mercy of big companies.
5
Community. Timorese people can work as equals on projects
around the world, and inuence the future.
Sebastian Rahtz (OSS Watch) Introduction to open source software May 2005, Timor Leste 20 / 20