Free and Open Source Free and Open Source SoftwareSoftware

Aruna LorensuhewaAruna Lorensuhewa

Contact Details:Contact Details:Email: Email: aruna@cc.ruh.ac.lkaruna@cc.ruh.ac.lk

Source Code of SoftwareSource Code of Software

Source code is any sequence of statements or declarations Source code is any sequence of statements or declarations written in some human-readable computer programming written in some human-readable computer programming language (Java or C)language (Java or C)

By having the source code to a program you are usually given By having the source code to a program you are usually given the power to change, fix, customize, and learn about a programthe power to change, fix, customize, and learn about a program

This is a power that you do not have if you are not given the This is a power that you do not have if you are not given the source code (proprietary software). source code (proprietary software).

Source code is one of the requirements that make a piece of Source code is one of the requirements that make a piece of software free.software free.

SoftwarePackage

Why Code is Important?Why Code is Important? ““Code” is the technology that makes computers run. Code” is the technology that makes computers run.

These machines increasingly define and control our life.These machines increasingly define and control our life.

These machines run us. These machines run us.

Code runs these machines. SoCode runs these machines. So

– What What

Control Control UnderstandingUnderstanding FreedomFreedom PowerPower

should we have over this codeshould we have over this code? ?

These questions have been the challenge ofThese questions have been the challenge of a famous persona famous person

FREE AS IN FREEDOM

Richard StallmanRichard Stallman

Richard Matthew StallmanRichard Matthew Stallman (born (born March 16March 16, , 19531953), often ), often abbreviated "rms", is an abbreviated "rms", is an AmericanAmerican software freedomsoftware freedom activistactivist, , hackehackerr, and , and software developersoftware developer..

Founding a movement for freedom in a world increasingly defined Founding a movement for freedom in a world increasingly defined by “code.” by “code.”

In September 1983, he launched the In September 1983, he launched the GNU ProjectGNU Project to create a free to create a free Unix-likeUnix-like operating systemoperating system, and has been the project's lead , and has been the project's lead architect and organizer. architect and organizer.

With the launch of the GNU Project he started the With the launch of the GNU Project he started the Free Software MovementFree Software Movement, and in October 1985 set up the , and in October 1985 set up the Free Software FoundationFree Software Foundation (FSF)(FSF)..

Stallman pioneered the concept of Stallman pioneered the concept of copyleftcopyleft and is the main author and is the main author of several copyleft licenses including the of several copyleft licenses including the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License, the most widely used , the most widely used free software licensefree software license..

Open Source Software/ Free Open Source Software/ Free SoftwareSoftware

Briefly, Open Source Software (OSS) / Free Briefly, Open Source Software (OSS) / Free Software (FS) program are programs whose Software (FS) program are programs whose licenses give users the freedom to licenses give users the freedom to

run the program for any purpose, run the program for any purpose,

to study and modify the program, and to study and modify the program, and

to redistribute copies of either the original or to redistribute copies of either the original or modified program. modified program.

Two Philosophies in the Free and Open Two Philosophies in the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)Source Software (FOSS)

There are two major philosophies in the Free There are two major philosophies in the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) world:and Open Source Software (FOSS) world:

– Free Software Foundation (FSF) philosophy Free Software Foundation (FSF) philosophy

– Open Source Initiative (OSI) philosophy.Open Source Initiative (OSI) philosophy.

Free Software Foundation (FSF) philosophyFree Software Foundation (FSF) philosophy

According to the FSF, free software is about protecting According to the FSF, free software is about protecting

four user freedoms (Launched in 1983)four user freedoms (Launched in 1983)

Freedom 0: The freedom to run a program, for any purpose

Freedom 1: The freedom to study how a program works and adapt it to a person’s needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for this

Freedom 2: The freedom to redistribute copies so that you can help your neighbor and

Freedom 3: The freedom to improve a program and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.

Non-free (free as in freedom, not prices) software restricts the freedom to corporate. FSF considers non-free software unethical.

Open Source Initiative (OSI) Open Source Initiative (OSI)

philosophyphilosophy The basic idea behind open source is very simple:The basic idea behind open source is very simple:

When programmer can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a When programmer can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece for softwarepiece for software, , the software evolves. the software evolves.

People improve it. People adapt it, people fix bugs. People improve it. People adapt it, people fix bugs.

In this way software will rapidly improveIn this way software will rapidly improve. .

The OSI is focused on the technical value of making powerful, The OSI is focused on the technical value of making powerful,

reliable software, and is more business-friendly than FSF.reliable software, and is more business-friendly than FSF.

It is less focused on the moral issues of Free Software and more on the It is less focused on the moral issues of Free Software and more on the practical advantages of the FOSS distributed development method.practical advantages of the FOSS distributed development method.

Similarities of FSF & OSISimilarities of FSF & OSI

While the fundamental philosophy of the two While the fundamental philosophy of the two movements is different, both SFS and OSI share the movements is different, both SFS and OSI share the same space and cooperate on practical grounds like same space and cooperate on practical grounds like software development effort against proprietary software development effort against proprietary software and software patentsoftware and software patent. .

Richard Stallman says, the Free Software Movement Richard Stallman says, the Free Software Movement and the Open Source Movements are and the Open Source Movements are two political two political parties in the same community.parties in the same community.

Foss Development ModelFoss Development Model

FOSS Development ModelFOSS Development Model The FOSS development model is unique and became The FOSS development model is unique and became

possible only with the advent of the Internet and the possible only with the advent of the Internet and the communication boom caused by it. communication boom caused by it.

The cathedral and bazaar analogies are used to The cathedral and bazaar analogies are used to contrast the FOSS development model with traditional contrast the FOSS development model with traditional software development methods.software development methods.

The bazaar method development has been proven over The bazaar method development has been proven over time to have several advantages.time to have several advantages.

Reduced duplication of effortReduced duplication of effort Building upon the work of othersBuilding upon the work of others Better quality controlBetter quality control Reduced maintenance costsReduced maintenance costs

Gnu PROJECTGnu PROJECT

UNIXUNIX-compatible software system developed by the Free Software -compatible software system developed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). Foundation (FSF).

The philosophy behind The philosophy behind GNUGNU is to produce software that is non-proprietary. is to produce software that is non-proprietary. The GNU project was started in 1983 by The GNU project was started in 1983 by Richard StallmanRichard Stallman at the MIT at the MIT

Linux systems rely heavily on GNU software and in the past, Linux systems rely heavily on GNU software and in the past, GNU GNU systems used the Linux systems used the Linux kernelkernel (GNU/Linux). (GNU/Linux).

This close connection has led some people to mistakenly equate GNU with This close connection has led some people to mistakenly equate GNU with Linux. Linux.

They are actually quite separate. In fact, the FSF is developing a new They are actually quite separate. In fact, the FSF is developing a new kernel called HURD to replace the Linux kernel in GNU systems.kernel called HURD to replace the Linux kernel in GNU systems.

LinuxLinux

Linux pronounced as lee-nucks or lih-nucks. Linux is a Linux pronounced as lee-nucks or lih-nucks. Linux is a freely-distributable freely-distributable open sourceopen source operating systemoperating system that that runs on a number of hardware runs on a number of hardware platformsplatforms. .

The Linux The Linux kernelkernel was developed mainly by was developed mainly by Linus Linus TorvaldsTorvalds and it is based on Unix. and it is based on Unix.

Because it's free, and because it runs on many platforms, Because it's free, and because it runs on many platforms, including including PCsPCs and and MacintoshesMacintoshes, Linux has become an , Linux has become an extremely popular alternative to extremely popular alternative to proprietaryproprietary operating systemsoperating systems. .

Linus Benedict Torvalds (born inDecember 28, 1969 in Finland) is a Finnish software engineer

Software Freedom Day (SFD)Software Freedom Day (SFD)

Software Freedom Day (SFD) is an annual worldwide Software Freedom Day (SFD) is an annual worldwide celebration of celebration of freefree//open-source softwareopen-source software. .

SFD is a public education effort, not only to SFD is a public education effort, not only to celebratecelebrate the the virtues of free/open-source software, but also to encourage virtues of free/open-source software, but also to encourage its use, to the benefit of the public.its use, to the benefit of the public.

Software Freedom Day was established in 2004 and was first Software Freedom Day was established in 2004 and was first observed on observed on August 28August 28, 2004 when over 70 teams , 2004 when over 70 teams participated. participated.

Since that time it has grown in popularity as more than 300 Since that time it has grown in popularity as more than 300 teams from over 60 countries celebrated on the second SFD, teams from over 60 countries celebrated on the second SFD, held on held on September 10September 10, 2005. , 2005.

The primary sponsor for 2005-2006 was The primary sponsor for 2005-2006 was Canonical Ltd.Canonical Ltd., the , the company behind company behind UbuntuUbuntu, a , a Linux distributionLinux distribution..

Software Freedom Day (SFD) - Software Freedom Day (SFD) - 20072007

Last year's Software Freedom Day was celebrated on the Last year's Software Freedom Day was celebrated on the

15th of September 200715th of September 2007. . http://www.foss.lk/events/2007/sfdhttp://www.foss.lk/events/2007/sfd

How large are the savings from FOSS?How large are the savings from FOSS?

There have been recent reports about the tremendous There have been recent reports about the tremendous savings from FOSS, most noticeably from giant corporations savings from FOSS, most noticeably from giant corporations that have migrated their internal systems to GNU/Linux. Intel that have migrated their internal systems to GNU/Linux. Intel reportedly saved US$200 million from a move to GNU/Linux reportedly saved US$200 million from a move to GNU/Linux from Unixfrom Unix

Amazon reported a savings of US$17 million14 from Amazon reported a savings of US$17 million14 from switching their servers to GNU/Linux.switching their servers to GNU/Linux.

However, licensing costs are not the only costs of a software However, licensing costs are not the only costs of a software package or infrastructure. It is also necessary to consider package or infrastructure. It is also necessary to consider personnel costs, hardware requirements, opportunity costs personnel costs, hardware requirements, opportunity costs and training costs.and training costs.

Often referred to as the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), these Often referred to as the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), these costs give the clearest picture of the savings from using FOSScosts give the clearest picture of the savings from using FOSS

Direct Cost Savings – An ExampleDirect Cost Savings – An Example

Cybersource of Australia has done an Cybersource of Australia has done an analysis of FOSS savings based on a analysis of FOSS savings based on a comparison between Microsoft products comparison between Microsoft products and FOSS-based software that provide and FOSS-based software that provide similar functionalities. The study, “Linux similar functionalities. The study, “Linux vs. Windows: The Bottom Line”, looked at vs. Windows: The Bottom Line”, looked at potential savings for three hypothetical potential savings for three hypothetical companies (A: 50 users; B: 100 users; and companies (A: 50 users; B: 100 users; and C: 250 users). All numbers are in US C: 250 users). All numbers are in US dollars:dollars: