10 May 2005UNSDI Workshop - FAO-HQ - Italy Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) & OpenSDI Jeroen Ticheler

10 May 2005 UNSDI Workshop - FAO-HQ - Italy

Free and Open Source Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)Software (FOSS)

&&OpenSDIOpenSDI

Jeroen TichelerJeroen Ticheler


ContentContent

What is Software?What is Software? What is Free and Open Source What is Free and Open Source

Software?Software? Benefits and constraints of FOSSBenefits and constraints of FOSS OpenSDIOpenSDI ConclusionsConclusions


What is Software?What is Software?

Instructions that make hardware Instructions that make hardware workwork

Programmers write scripts that can Programmers write scripts that can be understood by people and by be understood by people and by compilers: the source codecompilers: the source code

Compiled software canCompiled software cannot be fixed or adaptednot be fixed or adaptedto user needsto user needs


What is Software?What is Software?

A key property is that it can be A key property is that it can be infinitely copied without any lossinfinitely copied without any loss


Open Source versus Open Source versus Closed Source SoftwareClosed Source Software

Most prominent exampleMost prominent example


Open Source versus Open Source versus Closed Source SoftwareClosed Source Software

Source code is often the most Source code is often the most secret propertysecret property

Open Source software provides Open Source software provides access to the source code of an access to the source code of an applicationapplication


Think of Source Code as LEGOThink of Source Code as LEGO®® PiecesPieces

LEGO® Metaphor as used in “Towards a Free and Open Source Spatial Data Infrastructure.”C. Holmes et. al. - 2005


You Can Build New You Can Build New ConstructionsConstructions


These Might Be Simple These Might Be Simple ConstructionsConstructions


Or More Complex OnesOr More Complex Ones


Much depends on the Much depends on the usersusers


You can use a solid basisYou can use a solid basis


And repaint it, changing And repaint it, changing the look and feelthe look and feel


An ExampleAn Example

OpenOffice* was translated into OpenOffice* was translated into Swahili in four months in Tanzania.Swahili in four months in Tanzania.

The project leader said:The project leader said:º "we clearly show that with free and "we clearly show that with free and

open source software we can do in open source software we can do in four months what proprietary four months what proprietary software has never done for the software has never done for the Swahili speakers."Swahili speakers."

**A FOSS alternative to Microsoft OfficeA FOSS alternative to Microsoft Office


Or You Could Go Much Or You Could Go Much FurtherFurther


UNEP’s custom interface on GeoNetwork OpenSource (under development)


Making Sure The Software Making Sure The Software Works For Its UsersWorks For Its Users


Possible Constraints of Open Possible Constraints of Open SourceSource

Lack of technical support?Lack of technical support?º The first support comes from the communityThe first support comes from the communityº Successful projects usually have companies Successful projects usually have companies

or developers in their community offering or developers in their community offering commercial technicalcommercial technical

User Oriented DocumentationUser Oriented Documentation No Marketing BudgetNo Marketing Budget


Benefits of Open Source Benefits of Open Source SoftwareSoftware

Free to use and distribute Free to use and distribute Free to choose (no vendor lock-in)Free to choose (no vendor lock-in)



Software can be developed or Software can be developed or

changed by everybodychanged by everybody Software is protected by a Software is protected by a

copyright, often referred to as copyright, often referred to as

copyleft, ensuring its freedomcopyleft, ensuring its freedom



Ever-increasing Return on InvestmentEver-increasing Return on Investmentº Most improvements come back to the Most improvements come back to the

whole communitywhole community

User feedbackUser feedbackº Features that a user may not knowFeatures that a user may not know

º Bug reportsBug reports


An ExampleAn Example



Strong tendency towards Strong tendency towards compliancy to international compliancy to international standardsstandards


Building Capacity in Building Capacity in CountriesCountries

Money otherwise spend on license Money otherwise spend on license fees can go exclusively towards fees can go exclusively towards developing skills and local capacitydeveloping skills and local capacity


Some GeoFOSSSome GeoFOSS 235 different projects listed on freegis.net235 different projects listed on freegis.net MapServer - internet map serverMapServer - internet map server

º Standards:OGC WMS, WCS, WFSStandards:OGC WMS, WCS, WFS GeoServer - internet feature serverGeoServer - internet feature server

º Standards: OGC WFS, WFS-T, WMSStandards: OGC WFS, WFS-T, WMS GeoTools - Java toolkitGeoTools - Java toolkit

º Standards: OGC WMSStandards: OGC WMS GeoNetwork - metadata and catalog toolsGeoNetwork - metadata and catalog tools

º Standards: ISO19115, OGC CatalogStandards: ISO19115, OGC Catalog uDig - client toolkituDig - client toolkit


Web Mapping ApplicationWeb Mapping Application

© OGC 2004


Internet Map ApplicationInternet Map Application


uDig Desktop Internet GISuDig Desktop Internet GIS

© OGC 2004


uDig Desktop Internet GISuDig Desktop Internet GIS

Screenshot of uDig © Refractions


Handheld Map ApplicationHandheld Map Application

© OGC 2004


Handheld Map ApplicationHandheld Map Application

Image: GRASS on iPAQ/Linux (Photo: Jan Stankovic/MN, ITC-irst)


Metadata Catalog & Metadata Catalog & SearchSearch

© OGC 2004


Metadata Catalog & Metadata Catalog & SearchSearch


Web Map ServersWeb Map Servers(the Databases)(the Databases)

© OGC 2004


Web Map ServersWeb Map Servers


ConclusionsConclusions

Enormous potential for developing Enormous potential for developing countriescountriesº No need for software piracyNo need for software piracyº Develop its own software and servicing Develop its own software and servicing

industryindustryº Currency stays in the countryCurrency stays in the countryº Freedom to chooseFreedom to chooseº Freedom to distributeFreedom to distribute

Documents

10 May 2005UNSDI Workshop - FAO-HQ - Italy Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) & OpenSDI Jeroen Ticheler