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Lisp open_source software development
LISTOF QUESTIONS
1. What is the role of technology for the Least Developed
Countries? .....................................................................................15
2. What is the digital divide? ........................................................16
3. How does access to information relate
todevelopment?Anexample.........................................................20
4. What are the major challenges for organizations LDC's
implementing ICT4D?...................................................................23
5. What is the role of the donor community in promoting ICT4D? ....26
6. What is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)?.....................28
7. Advantages and disadvantages of FOSS ...................................33
8. Is donated software also free software? .....................................37
9. What softwares are well-known free
and open softwares – desktop? .....................................................39
10. What softwares are well-known free
andopensoftwares–server?..........................................................43
11. Who are the main stakeholders in the FOSS arena? ................45
12. What licenses are used for FOSS? ..........................................48
9
List of Questions
13. What is the essence of the GPL? .............................................52
14. What is Open Content? ...........................................................53
15. What are the characteristics of Open Content licenses? ...........55
16. Is FOSS only for LDC's? ........................................................59
17. How can initiatives in FOSS be qualified? ..............................60
18. What are the key examples at a Macro level? ..........................62
19. What are the key examples at Meso level? .............................65
20. What are the key examples at Micro level? ............................67
21. What lessons can be learned from the examples? ....................70
22. What are the major hindrances for the introduction
of FOSS in LDC's? ......................................................................71
23. What does it take to start with FOSS? .....................................74
24. Considering migrating to FOSS? .............................................76
25. Is there hope for FOSS in LDC's? ..........................................78
26. What are the challenges for governments in LDC's?................79
27. What are the challenges for the donor community? ................82
28. What are the challenges for education? ..................................83
29. What can the software industry do?.........................................85
30. What is the research agenda for FOSS4D? ..............................86
Literature and selected readings.....................................................91
About the authors...........................................................................97
Notes .............................................................................................99
List of Keywords.........................................................................103
10
INTRODUCTION
In 1991 Linus Torvalds used a new paradigm in software
development that is now maturing and has the potential to
change the world. Torvalds developed an operating systems
called Linux. Initially he was interested in developing a small
version of the UNIX operating systems. In order to improve
the software he decided to share the code with the software
community outside the University of Helsinki in Finland.
The software community based approach in the development
of Linux gave the real boost to the Free and Open Source
Software (FOSS1) philosophy, since it was proved that it was
able to produce software that was able to compete with
commercially produced softwares (www.linux.org). The
launch of the first Linux distribution (a combination of the
operating systems and supporting applications) by Torvalds
in 1994 has lead to an explosion new Linux based Open
Source operating systems and application software to run on
the Linux platform. At the moment of writing www.linux.org
lists 220 different (maintained) Linux distributions.2
The FOSS philosophy challenges the general accepted
software development paradigms that are used by companies
of today (Raymond, 1998). Traditional software development
paradigms are based on the idea that software has to be fully
11
Introduction
developed and tested before it is sold in the market. When
the software is put in the market, users can not change the
source code, and mistakes have to fixed by the software
company. This way of working makes the development of
new software a labor intensive and long process. With the
development of Open Source Software, a different route is
taken. The basic functionality is programmed by the
initiator(s) and then made available for others to test, use
and/or modify. Mistakes in the software are not considered
problematic, but are accepted. Since the source code is
distributed, every software engineer can change or extend the
original product. So, where propriety software is developed
in-house and then released, FOSS is under constant
development because anyone in the world can change the
code.3
An important aspect in pro-FOSS discussions is the price.
Not all FOSS is distributed free of charge, and some come
with a price tag, but in most cases it is cheaper to acquire
than proprietary software. The real price difference emerges
from the fact that there not a license fee structure. Where for
proprietary software all the users need to pay a fee, in the
FOSS approach someone buys the software, and becomes the
owner and can start to freely redistribute it to other users.
Especially in larger organizations this can make a huge
difference.
Although a lot has been written about the importance of
FOSS, its advantages and challenges, most is published in
the context of the developed countries: Europe and the North
America. Growing attention is noticed for the strong
developing economies in Latin America, like Brazil, the
Indian Subcontinent, India, and there is a strong promotion
by the Asian-Pacific Development Information Programme
(APDIP) for the use of FOSS in the countries in South East
Asia. On the contrary, surprisingly little has been published
12
Introduction
on the use of FOSS on the African continent. Donors have
promoted the use of FOSS since huge advantages are
expected, projects have been funded, but the actual impact
has not been well mapped.
This book is about FOSS for Development (FOSS4D).
We will focus on the Least Developed Countries (LDC's) and
primarily on the African context. Most of the LDC's are in
Africa. Both authors have worked in this context and
initiated and managed FOSS4D projects in several parts of
Africa. It is on these experiences that we will build and
expand. We are both convinced that FOSS can make a huge
difference for the lives of the people and can greatly expand
their access to information. FOSS will take away the
financial and legal barriers that limit the use of software in
schools, universities, civil society and at government levels.
The book will guide the reader to a better understanding
of the role of FOSS for the development of the LDC's
through a range of questions. The questions are related but
provide answers in themselves. The reader is encouraged to
read the questions in sequential order, but for readers that
understand the potential of FOSS, the individual answers will
help to make their position stronger. The examples that are
used in the book are mostly based on the projects that are
supported by the International Institute for Communication
and Development (IICD) but they are not limited to the work
of this organization.
Finally, this book is mainly based on Free and Open
Content that has been made available through the internet
or otherwise. We have refrained as much as possible from
using Paid and Closed Content as a matter of principle. We
believe that free and open exchange of knowledge is
necessary for the development of LDC's and opening up
content to limited groups of people (i.c. those who can
afford) should be discouraged.