Open Source Software & the Power of Free

Miguel Hernandez(@Techivist)

Invisible2Invincible ConferenceSeptember 27, 2014

Who is this dude?

● Founder @OpenMindzGroup● Founder @SoftwareLibreUn● Founder @GLADrupal● Producer of tech meetups, conference & hackathons● Advisor to Startup Entrepreneurs & Non-Profits● Contributor to many OpenSource projects- Drupal, Ubuntu,

Songbird, OpenOffice +more● Writer- @LinuxJournal, @TechZulu & @Massively● Writing 3 Books● Serial Giver-Backer since '93

Dang, that's a LOT! How you find the time?

● I run my software development & engineering firm on a 50/50 model- 50% of my time dedicated to clients & 50% of my time I donate back to the community through various efforts

● One of the benefits is that I get to be real picky about the projects I work on

My Story

● Born on a small ranch in Zacatecas, Mexico● Emigrated to the U.S. When I was 1 ½● Grew up in Watts & Compton & VERY proud of it!● Attended USC- studied Business & Gerontology & did

Alzheimer's Research● Self-taught in everything Tech● Learned how to code in '90 with BASIC on the Commodore64● Started building websites when the Internet came out in '94● Worked in Tech since '97- Startups, large companies like

Ticketmaster & for Electrical Engineering firms

STEM jobs are in HIGH demand & VERY well-paid

● By the year 2020, there will be 1.1 MILLION unfilled jobs in STEM

● This provides a HUGE opportunity for you to learn now & fill those jobs by then

● There's a wide variety of jobs in STEM● The average Engineer makes $79,000/yr.

– Less if you're just starting

– More if you have a lot of experience

Top 10 Job Openings by 2020

What is Open Source Software?

● A belief that ALL software should be free & accessible to ALL

● Doesn't discriminate● People work on & contribute to open source

software all over the world every day● You use it everyday, just don't know it● Government & big businesses leverage it● http://opensource.org/osd

Open Source = Access to STEM

● Available for FREE & legal to download● The source code is included● LOTS of options for you to pick your learning

path● Available in almost every language of the

known world

The Linux Operating System

● There are 1000's of different “flavors” called distributions or distros, for short

● The LiveCD allows you to “kick the tires”● There are distros for kids, Forensic Scientists, Musicians,

Videographers, Photographers, Artists, etc. The list is endless● It's all FREE & available for you to download right now● Extremely familiar & completely customizable● Distros for the Internet of Things & Robotics (Embedded

Systems)● Www.DistroWatch.com

Example: Ubuntu Studio

Ubuntu Studio: Graphic Design

Ubuntu Studio: Audio Production

Ubuntu Software Center

7 OpenSource Alternatives

● MS Office = OpenOffice or LibreOffice● Photoshop = GIMP● Illustrator = Inkscape ● Publisher = Scribus● Fruity Loops, Cubase, AbletonLive = Audacity● Unity = Unreal SDK, CRYEngine or Scratch● Maya, Pixar's RenderMan, 3ds Max = Blender

Blender Project (Examples)

● SINTEL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HomAZcKm3Jo

● Gooseberry Teaser Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nCrSjtV0nU

● Caminandes Vol.1 Short Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCHy1nUdfu8

● Camninandes Vol.2 Short Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIKwTq3UVaE

● Tears of Steel Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwHux5QZfC8

OpenSource Universities: MOOC

MOOC Examples

● Udacity● Coursera● EdX● Udemy● Khan Academy

OpenCourseWare

● Pre-cursor to MOOC's● Specifically, course lessons published by

universities for free via the internet● Started in 1999 at Univ. of Tubingen

(Germany)● MIT OpenCourseWare launched in 2002

– This is what made OpenCourseWare &, later, MOOC's take off in popularity

Now Go Out & Learn, Then EARN!

● You're all VERY smart & resourceful!● You have many who support you & are here to

help you get to the next level, myself included.● I don't want to hear “I can't do this” or “This is

too hard”● I DO want to hear “I'd like to learn X, how do I

get there?”● I have a business card for EVERY one of you.

Resources

● Www.DistroWatch.com● Www.OSalt.com● Www.opensource.org/osd● http://ocw.mit.edu● http://online.stanford.edu/openedx● http://online.stanford.edu/courses● http://www.extension.harvard.edu/open-learning-

initiative

THANK YOU!!!

● Keep In Touch:● @Techivist● @SoftwareLibreUn● @OpenMindzGroup● http://migshouse.com/about● http://www.linkedin.com/in/miguelhernandez3● Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/migfoo