NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Turner
Introduction and Definitions NICS FOSS Masterclass Mythology surrounding FOSS Pragmatic Dr Colin Turner reasons for using FOSS Head of School, School of Engineering, Other forms of University of Ulster Openness [email protected] Legal Issues
Business Models
How to implement a 17th May 2011 FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 1 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Outline Turner
Introduction and 1 Introduction and Definitions Definitions
Mythology surrounding 2 Mythology surrounding FOSS FOSS
Pragmatic reasons for 3 Pragmatic reasons for using FOSS using FOSS
Other forms of Openness 4 Other forms of Openness Legal Issues Business 5 Legal Issues Models
How to implement a 6 Business Models FOSS culture
Summary 7 How to implement a FOSS culture
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 2 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin FOSS and its usage Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS FOSS is Free and Open Source Software. Pragmatic reasons for How does it relate to you? using FOSS Other forms of • Do you create FOSS? Openness
Legal Issues • Do you use FOSS? Business • Do you procure FOSS? Models
How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 3 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Context of this talk Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS
Pragmatic reasons for On the 15th October 2008, Sir Reg Empey opened the using FOSS Open Source Solution Centre in the SRC in Newry. His Other forms of Openness speech provided some useful local context. Legal Issues
Business Models
How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 4 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Sir Reg Empey Turner Open Source Solution Centre, 15th October 2008
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology “... Today’s event is a tangible illustration of surrounding FOSS further progress and is a timely development, given
Pragmatic the strategic importance of Open Source software reasons for using FOSS to the long term sustainability of our software
Other forms of sector. Openness It is clear that Free and Open Source Software Legal Issues will become fundamental to building and Business Models maintaining future market share. The FOSS model How to can therefore provide start-ups with a fast and implement a FOSS culture efficient way to build a client base and thus gain Summary market advantage. ”
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 5 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Sir Reg Empey Turner Open Source Solution Centre, 15th October 2008 Introduction “... Open source also adds value to the and Definitions Northern Ireland software industry by providing Mythology impetus to their product and process innovation, surrounding FOSS resulting in faster delivery.” Pragmatic reasons for “... The days of conventional commercial using FOSS software companies holding a monopoly position Other forms of Openness over society are over.”
Legal Issues “... I would like to reinforce the message that
Business Open Source solutions will in the future represent Models an important contribution to building and How to implement a maintaining market share for the business and FOSS culture other sectors. The fact that all of us are gathered Summary here today demonstrates the commitment of government to embrace this new climate of opportunity.”
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 6 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Neelie Kroes Turner European Union Competition Commissioner, 10th
Introduction June 2008 and Definitions
Mythology surrounding “I know a smart business decision when I see FOSS one - choosing Open Standards is a very smart Pragmatic reasons for business decision indeed.” using FOSS
Other forms of “There is a democracy issue as well. No citizen Openness or company should be forced or encouraged to use Legal Issues a particular company’s technology to access Business Models government information. No citizen or company
How to should be forced or encouraged to choose a implement a FOSS culture closed technology over an open one, through a Summary government having made that choice first.”
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 7 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Terms and their usage Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS It’s worth noting at this early stage that we should not take it
Pragmatic for granted that people understand the meaning of free or reasons for using FOSS open source software. Even in the FOSS community, there
Other forms of are some divergences of opinion and usage here. Openness
Legal Issues So, with apologies to those for whom this is all well Business understood, we shall introduce the definitions in most Models common usage. How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 8 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Free as in Freedom Turner
Introduction and Definitions The Oxford English Dictionary (Reference Version) has 19 Mythology surrounding definitions of the word free. Here are a few: FOSS
Pragmatic • unrestricted, unimpeded; not restrained or fixed; reasons for using FOSS • unconstrained; Other forms of Openness • available without charge; costing nothing. Legal Issues Most people think the last of these is what “free” software Business Models pertains to, but no, it is the former two which have a higher How to priority that the latter, although often strong restrictions on implement a FOSS culture cost exist. As the FSF (http://www.fsf.org) say, it is Summary Free as in Freedom.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 9 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Terms and their usage Turner
Introduction and The Free Software Foundation (http://www.fsf.org) Definitions defines free software as providing you with the following Mythology surrounding freedoms with software: FOSS Pragmatic Freedoms in Free Software reasons for using FOSS 0 the right to run it for any purpose; Other forms of Openness 1 the right to study it and adapt to your needs; Legal Issues (which implies open source) Business Models 2 to redistribute it, so you can help others; How to 3 to release improvements, so everyone benefits. implement a FOSS culture Summary Specifically, note, money is not mentioned, but freedom 2 and 3 normally imply freedom from cost.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 10 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Terms and their usage Turner
Introduction and Definitions Other types of software include Mythology • Open Source: surrounding FOSS Most people use this term synonymously with free, but Pragmatic some mischievous people use this to literally mean: reasons for using FOSS read access to the source. Other forms of Openness • Custom: Legal Issues Software created “in house” which isn’t being licensed Business for distribution - closed source, but without ethical Models entanglements normally. How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary ... and
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 11 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Terms and their usage Turner
Introduction • Proprietary: and Definitions The “normal” model, software that is licensed, often in Mythology extraordinary ways that grants very little in return for the surrounding FOSS money. Having said that, again money might not be Pragmatic involved at all here, a lot of “freeware” and “shareware” reasons for using FOSS software still grant none of the freedoms mentioned Other forms of above. Openness Legal Issues “Crowley had been extremely impressed with Business Models the warranties offered by the computer industry,
How to and had in fact sent a bundle Below to the implement a FOSS culture department that drew up the Immortal Soul Summary agreements, with a yellow memo form attached just saying: ‘Learn, guys”’ Pratchett & Gaiman, Good Omens
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 12 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Money Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS Note that money is not part of the definition here. Pragmatic reasons for Software we would have (and still would) cause Freeware using FOSS
Other forms of and Shareware is not necessarily FOSS. Openness
Legal Issues FOSS (libre software) can, and is used to make money.
Business Models Proprietary software can be free of charge (gratis software).
How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 13 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why is Freedom important? Turner
Introduction and It might seem that this is a fairly academic distinction. After Definitions all, if the software is free in price, why should we care? Mythology surrounding Software that is free in price but not in licence is usually that FOSS
Pragmatic way for a reason. reasons for using FOSS • Internet Explorer, alleged to be free in a simple Other forms of (successful) bid to crush Netscape, Openness
Legal Issues • Media Player, alleged to be free to crush the opposition. Business These products have tended to help the market position of Models MS Windows (understandably, to be fair to Microsoft that How to implement a was they they were developed), but such commercial power FOSS culture
Summary has been the undoing of many competitors (e.g. OS/2). Is a mono-culture a healthy thing?
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 14 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why is Freedom important? Turner
Introduction and Definitions There are other reasons: Mythology surrounding • Mozilla rose from the ashes of Netscape, and now FOSS Mozilla Firefox is a highly popular extendable browser Pragmatic reasons for with open source so that it is available in almost using FOSS identical form on many platforms. Other forms of Openness • In 2004 the developer of the PWC (Linux) webcam Legal Issues driver withdrew his propietary driver (which was only Business Models available for the x86 platform) and his open source
How to driver. It was judged by the kernel developers that implement a FOSS culture hooks to closed source drivers could not be included for
Summary reasons of maintenance and cross platform support.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 15 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why is Freedom important? Turner
Introduction and Definitions • Free software implies free, or at least open standards, Mythology surrounding allowing users to avoid lock-in with one vendor. FOSS Consider that many governments are now insisting on Pragmatic reasons for only “open” formats being used to store information in using FOSS their work. Why? Other forms of Openness • What happens when the software you rely on for your Legal Issues research project belongs to a company that goes bust? Business Models • Free software is often considered more secure. This is How to security by design rather than security through implement a FOSS culture obscurity. More pairs of eyes can see the code in free Summary software applications, and bugs are not hidden.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 16 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin How much free software exists? Turner This talk was prepared entirely with free software: Introduction and Definitions • on a free operating system (GNU/Linux (Debian)); Mythology surrounding • with a free editor (Emacs), using free extensions; FOSS • compiled with a free document preparation system Pragmatic reasons for (LAT X); using FOSS E
Other forms of • with free extension packages (beamer); Openness • checked with a free PDF file viewer (xpdf, evince); Legal Issues Business • occasionally I looked up resources with a free browser Models (Mozilla Firefox). How to implement a • FOSS culture and I store the files in my version control system
Summary (subversion). And for almost all of these tasks I had several free alternatives. I could simply have used OpenOffice.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 17 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin FOSS and the public sector Turner
Introduction There are a number of ways in which the public sector and Definitions could, and perhaps should, relate to FOSS.
Mythology surrounding Relationships of the public sector to FOSS FOSS
Pragmatic 1 As a consumer of software. reasons for using FOSS Clearly, the sector procures vast quantities of software,
Other forms of should some of it be FOSS? Openness 2 As a creator of software. Legal Issues Custom software is created in large quantities, we Business Models should examine the pros and cons of making it FOSS. How to implement a 3 As a consumer of ideas. FOSS culture The methodologies used in FOSS are starting to be Summary used in industry. They promote team work and transparency.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 18 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Open Standards Turner
Introduction and Definitions A highly related idea is that of an Open Standard. This is a Mythology surrounding common standard that many companies can implement FOSS against. Consider for example TCP/IP and HTML. Pragmatic reasons for using FOSS Open Source implies Open Standards, since an inspection Other forms of of the code allows data structures and storage to be Openness revealed. However, it is possible (of course) to have closed Legal Issues source implementations of open standards. Business Models Many of the issues surrounding "code" can also be applied How to implement a to standards, knowledge and other diverse items including FOSS culture
Summary hardware.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 19 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Open Standards Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding It is often suggested that publicly funded work should make FOSS heavy uses of Open Standards. Pragmatic reasons for using FOSS One reason is to ensure that a citizen should not have to Other forms of purchase a particular proprietary technology to access Openness
Legal Issues services.
Business Models This avoids the general problem of vendor lock-in which
How to could be particularly acute with public data. implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 20 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin FOSS does not imply a Turner language Introduction and Definitions
Mythology FOSS can be platform and language agnostic. FOSS surrounding FOSS implementations of virtually every development language
Pragmatic exist on virtually all major operating systems. reasons for using FOSS In fact, a huge strength of FOSS is that is can bridge many Other forms of Openness platforms. For example, Linux supports x86, amd64, ARM,
Legal Issues MIPS to name a few. Business See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ Models Linux_supported_architectures How to implement a FOSS culture This allows Linux to inhabit markets from embedded Summary devices, WIFI routers, phones (Android and others), Desktop computers, Servers right up to Super computers.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 21 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin The Free Software Foundation Turner
Introduction In 1984 Richard Stallman (author or the emacs editor) and Definitions launched the Free Software Foundation or FSF Mythology (http://www.fsf.org). surrounding FOSS • Software produced by the FSF was often branded Pragmatic reasons for GNU. GNU stands for Gnu’s Not Unix and was an early using FOSS example of one of many self-referential acronyms to Other forms of Openness come; Legal Issues • The FSF intended to produce a complete free operating Business Models system — which was to be codenamed the Hurd. The How to intention was that this would be a free Unix like system. implement a FOSS culture • The software would be released under a licence known Summary as the GNU General Public Licence or GPL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html).
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 22 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin The Free Software Foundation Turner
Introduction Currently, the most recent version of the GPL is v3, but v2 is and Definitions still widely used. It is one of the licences used for free Mythology surrounding software, though there are many others. See FOSS http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html. Pragmatic reasons for • using FOSS Not all GPL programs are GNU; Other forms of • Users are free to modify the GPL code as they wish; Openness
Legal Issues • The licence ensures that any improved, or modified
Business version of the code must also be released under the Models GPL (it cannot be closed); How to implement a • It is permissible to sell GPL programs; FOSS culture Summary • However, anyone with the software has the right to give it away.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 23 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin GNU’s not unix Turner
Introduction and Definitions Mythology • Years passed and Gnu produced a great deal of surrounding FOSS excellent and famed software, mostly under the GPL; Pragmatic • reasons for Much of this software runs on Unix distributions of all using FOSS makes; Other forms of Openness • The Gnu C Compiler (GCC) becomes extremely Legal Issues popular (although now GCC stands for the Gnu Business Compiler Collection since it supports many languages); Models How to • But the OS kernel does not appear in any meaningful implement a FOSS culture way.
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 24 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin The rise of Linux Turner
Introduction and And then... Definitions
Mythology • In 1991, a Finnish student called Linus Torvalds began surrounding FOSS work on a new kernel to provide a freeware unix kernel
Pragmatic for people to play with. reasons for using FOSS • It was (perhaps) based on an attempt at a free version Other forms of of Minix, which was a x86 based kernel for students to Openness
Legal Issues explore, produced by Andrew Tanenbaum. Business • Linus initially claimed that it would never be portable, Models but at the time of writing it is ported to many platforms How to implement a and version 2.6.38.6 of the kernel is current. Linux is FOSS culture released under GPL v2. Summary This filled the missing gap in the movement.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 25 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Tensions in the Open Source / Turner Free Software Community Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS Pragmatic Even this altruistic bunch of people have their own politics. reasons for using FOSS At the front page of the GNU website Other forms of http://www.gnu.org Openness ( ) you will find a reference to why
Legal Issues Linux Operating Systems should be known as GNU/Linux
Business Operating Systems at Models (http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html). How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 26 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Richard Stallman on “Linux” Turner
Introduction and Definitions Mythology “If we tried to measure the GNU Project’s contribution in this surrounding FOSS way, what would we conclude? One CD-ROM vendor found Pragmatic that in their “Linux distribution”, GNU software was the reasons for using FOSS largest single contingent, around 28% of the total source Other forms of Openness code, and this included some of the essential major
Legal Issues components without which there could be no system. Linux
Business itself was about 3%. So if you were going to pick a name for Models the system based on who wrote the programs in the system, How to implement a the most appropriate single choice would be “GNU”.” FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 27 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Linus Torvalds on “GNU/Linux” Turner
Introduction and Definitions “About the GNU/Linux argument; have you talked with Mythology Richard Stallman about this?” surrounding FOSS “Linus: rms asked me if I minded the name before starting Pragmatic to use it, and I said “go ahead”. I didn’t think it would reasons for using FOSS explode into the large discussion it resulted in, and I also Other forms of thought that rms would only use it for the specific release of Openness Linux that the FSF was working on rather than “every” Linux Legal Issues
Business system. I never felt that the naming issue was all that Models important, but I was obviously wrong judging by how many How to implement a people felt very strongly about it. So these days I just tell FOSS culture people to call it just plain “Linux” and nothing more.” Summary (http://kde.sw.com.sg/food/linus.html)
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 28 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Free versus Open Source Turner
Introduction Richard Stallman also draws a sharp distinction between and Definitions Free and Open Source software: Mythology “The fundamental difference between the two movements is surrounding FOSS in their values, their ways of looking at the world. For the Pragmatic reasons for Open Source movement, the issue of whether software using FOSS should be open source is a practical question, not an ethical Other forms of Openness one. As one person put it, “Open source is a development
Legal Issues methodology; free software is a social movement.” For the
Business Open Source movement, non-free software is a suboptimal Models solution. For the Free Software movement, non-free How to implement a software is a social problem and free software is the FOSS culture solution.” Summary More can be read at http://www.gnu.org/ philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 29 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Debian, Bruce Perens and the Turner DFSG Introduction and Definitions
Mythology One major GNU / Linux distribution, Debian, was for a time surrounding FOSS headed up by Bruce Perens, who worked at Pixar at the
Pragmatic time (hence the Debian release names). He headed up the reasons for using FOSS initiative to define free software for Debian: The Debian Free
Other forms of Software Guidelines, part of the Debian Social Contract. Openness Essentially these are a more explicit statement of the FSF Legal Issues rules, and they became the Open Source Software Business Models Definition( http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd). How to Two somewhat polarised camps now exist: free software, implement a FOSS culture and open source software, with subtly different goals and Summary motivations, using different terminologies for the same concepts.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 30 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Free vs Open Source Turner
Introduction and Definitions • Free software advocates (e.g. Stallman), generally Mythology surrounding stress ethical issues, and want freedom to the the main, FOSS
Pragmatic clear issue. reasons for using FOSS • Open Source advocates (e.g. Torvalds, Perens), Other forms of generally stress the practical benefits of such software. Openness
Legal Issues • Most people confuse free software with free of charge,
Business and some mischeviously use the phrase open source Models when material is not free (as in freedom). How to implement a Consequently, terms like FOSS (free and open source FOSS culture software) are used to be inclusive. Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 31 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner
Introduction and Definitions It seems obvious that the public sector should be in favour Mythology of FOSS, the software is usually free of charge, and you surrounding FOSS have a lot of rights over it to customize it to need, and as the Pragmatic software is normally based in open standards, vendor lock reasons for using FOSS in is avoided. Other forms of Openness The OGC guidelines require open source solutions to be Legal Issues considered on a value for many basis alongside proprietary Business ones. Models
How to implement a Despite this, uptake of FOSS by the sector is very limited, FOSS culture and there are common reasons given for this. So it’s useful Summary to explore and consider these.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 32 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner
Introduction Here are some viewpoints that are typical in the sector, and Definitions some are more valid that others.
Mythology surrounding Perceived problems with uptake of FOSS FOSS • Quality “FOSS is flakey”; Pragmatic reasons for using FOSS • Support “We need support contracts”; Other forms of • Interoperability “We need to use what the real world Openness
Legal Issues uses”; Business • Gaps “There is no FOSS program to do X”; Models
How to • Special Licenses “But we get all this at a huge discount implement a FOSS culture anyway”; Summary • Budgets “If we spend less, we become less important”; • Transparency and Accountability “Pardon?”.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 33 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner The Quality Myth
Introduction and Definitions FOSS products are seen as lacking in QA measures, flaky Mythology surrounding and unreliable. Of course, this is as true in the proprietary FOSS sphere, but there you simply can’t do anything if the Pragmatic reasons for company goes out of business, loses interest etc.. using FOSS Other forms of This should be looked at on a case by case basis. Much of Openness the corporate, educational and public sector infrastructure of Legal Issues
Business the internet has historically run with large elements of rock Models solid reliable FOSS. For example the Apache web server. How to implement a FOSS culture Many GNU/Linux distributions as well as other major FOSS
Summary projects like Mozilla (Firefox) have elaborate QA and excellent stability.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 34 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner The Support Myth Introduction Perhaps the greatest fallacy. Support networks for FOSS and Definitions products are often extremely rich, and superior to those of Mythology surrounding proprietary products. For example compare Debian’s “for FOSS free” support, with similar features available for MS Pragmatic reasons for Windows. using FOSS
Other forms of Also support can be paid for, from any number of different Openness sources, unlike in the proprietary model where support is Legal Issues often only available from the vendor. Business Models In other words, there is a free market to provide support and How to implement a maintenance and you are quite free to fix issues in house if FOSS culture you choose. Summary There is also a belief you can sue proprietary vendors more easily in case of problems. Check the fine print, you usually cannot.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 35 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner The Interoperability Myth
Introduction It is often argued that compatibility with other software is a and Definitions major issue. There are exceptions, but generally proprietary Mythology software is in fact the natural enemy of open standards, with surrounding FOSS vendors needing to have distinctiveness in formats and Pragmatic other things built into the business model. Therefore, they reasons for using FOSS tend to produce interoperability within a sphere of products Other forms of from the same company. This does not provide true choice. Openness Legal Issues By contrast, “open source” implies open standards, since Business anyone can examine the code to find out how things are Models done and stored. This makes it straightforward to build How to implement a interoperable products. FOSS culture Summary Many FOSS solutions are based around the concept of modules that do a given job well, or in other words, there are a number of interoperable choices for each piece of functionality you want.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 36 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner Gaps
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS There are a few areas, but not many, where FOSS solutions Pragmatic reasons for don’t exist. It’s not the purpose of this talk to be unrealistic using FOSS about that, but to suggest that all other things being equal Other forms of Openness the FOSS solution is the obvious choice. Legal Issues Nevertheless, where the solution is in some cases to write Business Models the custom software to do the job, we should consider How to making the product FOSS. implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 37 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner Budgets
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology It’s an uncomfortable fact to face, but in large organisations surrounding with departmental divisions, it’s not always in the interests of FOSS
Pragmatic a given department to save money on procurement. This reasons for using FOSS will be a hidden motive and is therefore hard to counter. It’s
Other forms of important to appropriately reward savings, and allow for Openness transfers of how money is spent so that other resources can Legal Issues be obtained instead. Business Models Perversely, it is often claimed that FOSS does not produce How to implement a cost savings, since it requires training costs. That’s true of FOSS culture all software, but experience shows there is no greater need Summary for FOSS training than any other.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 38 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why not use more FOSS? Turner Transparency and Accountability
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding This seems to go over the heads of many, but a basic issue FOSS is having software that implements closed standards with Pragmatic reasons for public data. Who owns the data? How will you access it in using FOSS 20 years time? What is the software actually doing with it? Other forms of Openness When you commission software do you own any rights? Legal Issues The copyright to the code? If not, does the license mean Business Models only the original authors can change it for you? How to implement a These are concerns many simply don’t have, but they FOSS culture should! Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 39 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Creating FOSS Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS So why should we create FOSS in the public sector? Pragmatic reasons for using FOSS A better place to start would be why not? Frequently we Other forms of need to implement what would normally be custom Openness software, a special in-house solution to a problem. Are there Legal Issues
Business any pros and cons to making this free software? Models
How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 40 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Creating FOSS Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology Problems in making custom software FOSS surrounding FOSS • Security; a common perception is that making software Pragmatic reasons for open damages its security. This approach, security using FOSS through obscurity is generally devalued nowadays in Other forms of Openness any case; Legal Issues • Extra Effort; a project started in an open fashion from Business its outset should require no extra effort to have as an Models
How to open source venture. implement a FOSS culture ... continued Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 41 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Creating FOSS Turner
Introduction and Benefits to making custom software FOSS Definitions
Mythology • Gift Culture; giving software away and making it publicly surrounding FOSS available normally acts as a powerful incentive to
Pragmatic improve quality; reasons for using FOSS • Open in a box; even the impact of visibility of a project Other forms of within its parent organisation cannot be overlooked. Openness
Legal Issues Other developers can provide good ideas, or learn
Business them. A “joined up” philosophy is more likely. Models • Prestige; if you are going to develop the software, and How to implement a not exploit it with a proprietary license, then why not FOSS culture
Summary show off your good practice; ... continued
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 42 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Creating FOSS Turner
Introduction and Benefits to making custom software FOSS Definitions
Mythology • Dissemination; thousands of lines of code can be more surrounding FOSS valuable than journal articles; Pragmatic • Low risk business model; support can be provided on a reasons for using FOSS consultancy basis, with no obligation. Other forms of Openness • Gain expertise from others; encourage other Legal Issues organisations with the same problems to improve your Business software at little or no man power costs to you; Models
How to • Distribute expertise; if your core team leave your implement a FOSS culture control, you still have expertise in the code existing
Summary elsewhere (sustainability).
In short, FOSS, is an excellent exploitation model.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 43 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Creating FOSS Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS Pragmatic But perhaps the greatest benefit to an organisation for reasons for using FOSS creating FOSS is in embracing the philosophy itself. Other forms of Openness Indeed, the philosophy can be extended far beyond Legal Issues software. Business Models
How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 44 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Can we learn from the FOSS Turner philosophy? Introduction and Definitions Eric S. Raymond characterised FOSS development as Mythology surrounding divided into two methodologies. FOSS Pragmatic The Cathedral, where development took place behind reasons for using FOSS closed doors, and the finished product was released to the Other forms of general world. Openness Legal Issues The Bazaar, where the whole development takes place in Business Models the public view, and was open to the community from the
How to outset. implement a FOSS culture The Bazaar method is considered superior and has become Summary the de-facto standard within FOSS. It is, for example, the method employed by the Linux kernel.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 45 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Linux Turner Linux Kernel Development report, December 2010
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS
Pragmatic “Since 2005, over 6100 individual developers reasons for using FOSS from over 600 different companies have
Other forms of contributed to the kernel. The Linux kernel, thus, Openness has become a common resource developed on a Legal Issues massive scale by companies which are fierce Business Models competitors in other areas. ” How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 46 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Linux Turner Linux Kernel Development report, December 2010
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology “The numbers in this edition of the paper reflect surrounding FOSS the natural development cycle of an operating
Pragmatic system that had major pieces added/changed in reasons for using FOSS the previous year. Of course the Linux kernel
Other forms of community is still hard at work and growing. In fact, Openness there have been 1.5 million lines of code added to Legal Issues the kernel since the 2009 update. Since the last Business Models paper, additions and changes translate to an How to amazing 9,058 lines added, 4,495 lines removed, implement a FOSS culture and 1,978 lines changed every day – weekends Summary and holidays included. ”
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 47 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Can we learn from the FOSS Turner philosophy? Introduction and So what’s good about it? Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS
Pragmatic The Bazaar method has some important strengths. reasons for using FOSS • development is completely transparent to all Other forms of stakeholders; Openness Legal Issues • there is therefore a higher level of accountability; Business Models • it is harder for problems to be hidden and emerge later; How to • ideas can permeate in and out of the project from a implement a FOSS culture wider community. Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 48 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Can we learn from the FOSS Turner philosophy? Introduction and Increasing Openness Definitions
Mythology These ideas have influenced other initiatives: surrounding FOSS • Wikipedia (compared with h2g2); Pragmatic reasons for • Diaspora (compared with Facebook); using FOSS
Other forms of • Not the effect of opening communication upon Openness government; Legal Issues • Business Creative Commons; Models • RepRap (self replicating printer); How to implement a • FOSS culture OpenCore; Summary Richard Branson, in January 2008, announced that the Virgin Galactic technical development would follow the open source philosophy.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 49 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Relationship between copyright Turner and Licenses Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS • Copyright is automatic, and may attach to the author or Pragmatic the company; reasons for using FOSS • To be useful, it must be enforceable; Other forms of Openness • Licenses grant rights; usually to allow use and Legal Issues sometimes distribution; Business Models • Copyright holders can change the licensing, or offer How to dual or more licenses; implement a FOSS culture • Sometimes copyright has to be assigned away. Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 50 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Licenses should be explicit Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding • Failure to be explicit about copyright can lead to FOSS problems; Pragmatic reasons for • It makes it difficult or impossible to change a license; using FOSS
Other forms of • Failure to identify an explicit license can lead to Openness problems; Legal Issues • It may be illegal to use the code despite the author’s Business Models intention; • How to It can make it difficult to incorporate code into a project. implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 51 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Reminder about the GPL Turner
Introduction Currently, the most recent version of the GPL is v3, but v2 is and Definitions still widely used. It is one of the licences used for free Mythology surrounding software, though there are many others. See FOSS http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html. Pragmatic reasons for • using FOSS Not all GPL programs are GNU; Other forms of • Users are free to modify the GPL code as they wish; Openness
Legal Issues • The licence ensures that any improved, or modified
Business version of the code must also be released under the Models GPL (it cannot be closed); How to implement a • It is permissible to sell GPL programs; FOSS culture Summary • However, anyone with the software has the right to give it away.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 52 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin The Free Software Foundation - Turner Other Licenses Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS • There is also the Lesser GPL or LGPL, formerly known Pragmatic as the library GPL. In a nut shell, it offers similar reasons for using FOSS features to the GPL itself, except that code built on top Other forms of of such software does not “catch” the GPL. It lacks the Openness viral nature of the GPL. Legal Issues
Business • This license is used strategically where no benefit is Models obtained from using the GPL proper, for example, when How to implement a there is an existing alternative to the software in the FOSS culture proprietary sphere that will otherwise be used. Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 53 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin The Free Software Foundation - Turner Other Licenses Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS
Pragmatic reasons for • Note, it is perfectly legitimate to build custom software using FOSS on top of GPL code which is not distributed. It is not Other forms of Openness free, but it does not break the terms of the license. That
Legal Issues has important consequences for web applications. An Business alternative license that could be used for such an Models application of the Affero GPL. How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 54 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin DRM and GPL v3 Turner
Introduction and Definitions The TiVo video system was built around linux, and was used Mythology to enforce (via a subscription fee) access to a service. This surrounding FOSS (and similar practices) have become known as DRM - Pragmatic Digital Rights Management. The FSF and many others call reasons for using FOSS this Digital Restrictions Management since in fact it is a Other forms of system to deprive you of your rights, particularly freedom 0 - Openness
Legal Issues the right to run software for any purpose.
Business As part of the drafting of version 3 of the GPL Models http://gplv3.fsf.org/draft some restrictions on How to implement a DRM were added, to help prevent free software being used FOSS culture to restrict freedom of other kinds. Summary This has also been divisive.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 55 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin DRM and GPL v3 Turner
Introduction 3. Digital Restrictions Management. and Definitions As a free software license, this License intrinsically disfavors
Mythology technical attempts to restrict users’ freedom to copy, modify, and surrounding share copyrighted works. Each of its provisions shall be FOSS interpreted in light of this specific declaration of the licensor’s Pragmatic reasons for intent. Regardless of any other provision of this License, no using FOSS permission is given to distribute covered works that illegally Other forms of Openness invade users’ privacy, nor for modes of distribution that deny
Legal Issues users that run covered works the full exercise of the legal rights
Business granted by this License. Models No covered work constitutes part of an effective technological How to protection measure: that is to say, distribution of a covered work implement a FOSS culture as part of a system to generate or access certain data constitutes
Summary general permission at least for development, distribution and use, under this License, of other software capable of accessing the same data.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 56 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Linus Torvalds on DRM and Turner GPL v3 Introduction and Definitions
Mythology “The difference? The hardware may only run signed surrounding FOSS kernels. The fact that the hardware is closed is a
Pragmatic _hardware_ license issue. Not a software license issue. I’d reasons for using FOSS suggest you take it up with your hardware vendor, and quite
Other forms of possibly just decide to not buy the hardware. Vote with your Openness feet. Join the OpenCores groups. Make your own FPGA’s. Legal Issues [..] Business Models Notice how the current GPLv3 draft pretty clearly says that How to Red Hat would have to distribute their private keys so that implement a FOSS culture anybody sign their own versions of the modules they Summary recompile, in order to re-create their own versions of the signed binaries that Red Hat creates. That’s INSANE.”
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 57 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin The FSF on Linux, DRM and Turner GPL v3 Introduction and Definitions
Mythology Richard Fontana, a representative of the Free Software surrounding FOSS Foundation (FSF) stated that GPL 3.0 is intended to stop
Pragmatic developers using GPL code to build DRM products, services reasons for using FOSS or protected content. That means not allowing developers to
Other forms of build code that requires a DRM key to be unlocked and Openness certainly not allowing developers to prosecute others for Legal Issues unlocking their code without the use of specially provided Business Models DRM keys - or, in other words, "hacking". How to “Linus Torvalds has misread it... We require disclosure of implement a FOSS culture the codes if it’s necessary to make the software run.” Summary http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/15/gpl_ drm_license/
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 58 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why is DRM a potential Turner problem? Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS DRM has many potential uses, but consider just one. Pragmatic DRM can be used to ensure that the hardware of a reasons for using FOSS computer will only run crypographically signed software. Other forms of This could in principal, in some situations be a good thing Openness (e.g. digital voting machines, if you think they are a good Legal Issues
Business idea anyway). However, it could easily be used to design Models PCs that are locked into using only one version of one How to implement a operating system. This can deprive you of freedom 1, the FOSS culture right to study and adapt to your needs. Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 59 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Software Patents? Turner
Introduction and Definitions Software patents pose another potential danger, particularly Mythology surrounding to free software. At present they can be obtained in the USA FOSS but not within Europe. What are the issues? Pragmatic reasons for • patents protect big companies, and much less small using FOSS
Other forms of companies and individuals; Openness since big companies play patents off against each other Legal Issues • free and open source software is by definition available Business Models for inspection, while proprietary software is not; making How to implement a it easier to find, or invent, violations in the former; FOSS culture • patents in software don’t increase innovation, they kill it. Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 60 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Software Patents? Turner
Introduction and Microsoft recently sued TomTom for infringement of a Definitions number of patents. It’s worth noting that TomTom runs on Mythology surrounding top of a Linux kernel. FOSS Microsoft’s operating systems do not support any filing Pragmatic reasons for systems but their own, a luxury one can easily have in a using FOSS
Other forms of monopoly position. All of these filing systems have patent Openness entanglements, and arguably, much more advanced Legal Issues alternatives exist. However, in order to support the Microsoft Business Models machines, all memory sticks or differents brands and types How to all have to support MS filing systems. implement a FOSS culture As a result, to allow support on other OSs, support for Summary patent entangled filing systems needs to be added, and this has allowed this law suit.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 61 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Other Significant Licenses Turner
Introduction and Definitions Mythology • The other significant family of licenses is the BSD surrounding FOSS license. Historically there have been several versions, Pragmatic but a recent one omits advertising clauses. reasons for using FOSS • The BSD license essentially allows third parties to do Other forms of Openness whatever they like with the code. It can be used in free Legal Issues software, proprietary software, and changed versions Business need not be distributed. Models
How to • For example, it is believed the original Microsoft TCP/IP implement a FOSS culture stack was built upon BSD code.
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 62 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Business Models Turner
Introduction and • Definitions The proprietary business model is based around code
Mythology secrecy, and the sale of executable binaries derived surrounding FOSS from it, so a product is being sold. Pragmatic • FOSS models are based around code expertise, and reasons for using FOSS therefore a service is being sold. This is usually in the Other forms of form of consultancy, service level agreements, hosting Openness
Legal Issues and so on. Business • FOSS models tend to be symbiotic, since code Models contributed by one project (e.g. Red Hat) becomes How to implement a available to others, even compitetors in some cases. FOSS culture
Summary • A popular business model is using FOSS for the creation of embedded devices.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 63 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Why should we create it? Turner
Introduction and Like many universities, Ulster has produced a number of Definitions custom applications, which are not distributed under Mythology surrounding license. Two examples were: FOSS Pragmatic • the PDSystem A system designed to record the reasons for using FOSS outcomes of the PDP process, designed initially at a Other forms of corporate level. Openness
Legal Issues • OPUS A system to manage all aspects of work based Business placement and its administration, designed initially at a Models school level. How to implement a FOSS culture Over a number of years, as academics do, we went out on Summary conference to discuss how we were improving practice with this software.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 64 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Turner
Introduction The recurring question was “can we have the software”. and Definitions Mythology The perception within the academic community was that surrounding FOSS they were sector leading products withni the UK and Pragmatic beyond. reasons for using FOSS Other forms of There was interest in having it even if it was sold under a Openness
Legal Issues proprietary license, but we were not at that time able to
Business answer, this was a decision that needed to be taken at Models institutional level. How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 65 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Turner The development team was keen to deliver the products as Introduction and free software because Definitions
Mythology • we use free software to develop the applications, and surrounding FOSS build them on top of free software; Pragmatic • we hoped a community of usage and development reasons for using FOSS would emerge; Other forms of Openness • we wanted to minimise the risk from being overtaken by Legal Issues a potentially inferior proprietary product which might Business become industry standard; Models
How to • we didn’t want to concentrate on a full blown support implement a FOSS culture operation without additional staff.
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 66 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Turner The University saw it as
Introduction and • a way to demonstrate and improve its esteem nationally Definitions and beyond in these areas; Mythology surrounding • FOSS a low risk, agile method to exploit a product that
Pragmatic otherwise, probably would have no exploitation outside reasons for using FOSS the University; Other forms of • and therefore able to produce modest consultancy, or Openness support service income, which could be grown if need Legal Issues
Business be. Models
How to The decision was taken to make the two applications free implement a FOSS culture software, under the GNU General Public License v2, in
Summary September 2006.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 67 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Implementation - The Plan Turner
Introduction Releasing code under license did not by any means happen and Definitions overnight, there was some work to be done first: Mythology surrounding • most importantly, an infrastructure had to be put in FOSS place which allowed the hosting of code, downloads, Pragmatic reasons for related resources, as well bug and other trackers - using FOSS essentially the requirements for the bazaar style of Other forms of Openness development. Legal Issues • a comprehensive security audit of the code was Business Models necessary before release, but just for vulnerabilities in How to the code, but for other materials like system passwords implement a FOSS culture that existed in our original repositories. Summary These processes, occuring as they did alongside other duties took some time to complete.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 68 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Implementation - The Action Turner
Introduction We could have hosted our code on sourceforge or any other and Definitions similar entity, but we took the decision to install our own
Mythology environment for hosting development. surrounding FOSS 1 it serves as a flag in the sand, to hopefully encourage Pragmatic reasons for more such projects within the University of Ulster and using FOSS beyond; Other forms of Openness 2 it gave us total control of our first attempt at this Legal Issues process; Business Models 3 it made the establishment of a brand identity rather How to simpler; implement a FOSS culture 4 we could host related activities on the same server. Summary So we installed http://foss.ulster.ac.uk, entirely with free software, notably Debian and Savane.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 69 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Implementation - The Action Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding • We created brand new source repositories, and moved FOSS code from our closed ones to the new ones as it was Pragmatic reasons for audited; using FOSS • Other forms of We created mailing lists for users and developers; Openness • We established controls that would allow us to track the Legal Issues contributions of any new contributors, so it would be Business Models easy to add new team members. How to implement a • We released applications finally in February 2007. FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 70 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS
Pragmatic reasons for using FOSS
Other forms of Openness
Legal Issues
Business Models
How to implement a FOSS culture Summary The main packages, implemented on the LAMP stack.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 71 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Results Turner
Introduction Benefits and Definitions • income for customized versions (TEPNI for the Mythology surrounding PDSystem); FOSS • greatly improved, more streamlined, facilities for our Pragmatic reasons for own development; using FOSS
Other forms of • internal customers have benefited from improved code Openness quality, and all the facilities we have implemented for Legal Issues external customers; Business Models • national endorsement of our products (e.g. OPUS How to implement a endorsed by ASET); FOSS culture • very considerable interest from other insitutions, literally Summary around the world, with installations in Australia and Hong Kong.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 72 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Results Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding FOSS Benefits Pragmatic reasons for • greater impetus for improved software quality (gift using FOSS culture); Other forms of Openness • material on foss is directly useful for teaching, and Legal Issues allows students to build projects from scratch or on top Business Models of other technologies.
How to implement a FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 73 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin What is next? Turner
Introduction and Definitions
Mythology surrounding • dual stranded consultancy; training and technical; FOSS • continued work on improvement of existing applications Pragmatic reasons for by staff, project and placement students; using FOSS
Other forms of • improved documentation which can be produced by Openness non technical practitioners; Legal Issues • Business other existing products to become free; Models • application for funding to undertake similar work built How to implement a on the same technologies; FOSS culture
Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 74 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin What you need Turner
Introduction and Definitions There are some components to being able to support this Mythology surrounding kind of endeavour FOSS
Pragmatic reasons for • Revision Control Systems (network enabled); using FOSS
Other forms of • Bug and Issue trackers (preferably open); Openness • Mailing lists and other fora (preferably open); Legal Issues
Business Models There is a learning curve for such tools, but it brings How to internal, and possibly external collaborative benefits. implement a FOSS culture Packages like GForge provide all of this. Summary
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 75 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin FOSS activity in Northern Turner Ireland and Beyond Introduction and Definitions Mythology • open-ni network, to represent all open source interests surrounding FOSS in Northern Ireland. Pragmatic http://www.open-ni.org. reasons for using FOSS • foss@ulster, to host development at the University of Other forms of Openness Ulster.
Legal Issues http://foss.ulster.ac.uk. Business • Models Open Source Solution Centre at the SRC
How to http://www.src.ac.uk. implement a FOSS culture • Open Source Academy Case Studies Summary http://www.opensourceacademy.gov.uk/ solutions/casestudies
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 76 / 77 NICS FOSS Masterclass Dr Colin Summary Turner 1 It’s a first rate solution, not second rate Introduction and • Google uses it and produces it extensively, so does Definitions Sun, HP and many others. Mythology surrounding • SMEs use it to allow agile startups. FOSS 2 Consumption of FOSS Pragmatic reasons for • OGC guidelines require FOSS to be considered. using FOSS • It provides open standards and avoids vendor lock-in. Other forms of Openness • FOSS procurement in the public sector is limited by
Legal Issues many misconceptions.
Business • Most of these are easily debunked. Models 3 Creation of FOSS How to implement a • The public sector “may as well” create FOSS. Why not? FOSS culture • There are plenty of benefits in doing so. Summary 4 Borrowing FOSS methodologies • Increasingly seen as an agile, cheap, accountable and sustainable way to conduct business.
Dr Colin Turner (University of Ulster) NICS FOSS Masterclass 17th May 2011 77 / 77