Free & Open Source Software (FOSS)

FOSS Advantages & DisadvantagesIts applicability in developing Nations like Nepal.

By: Geshan Manandhar “03-00097-2”BIM 8th Semester

Computer Security and Cyber Law

Really, I'm not out to destroy Microsoft. That will just be a completely unintentional side effect: Linus Travolds, New York Times, 2003-09-28.

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Free & Open Source Software

● There are two terms to separate “free” and “open source” in FOSS.

● Free as in freedom of speech not as in free beer.

● Open mainly points to Open Source Code of the program, available for others.

● So free and open source software is in some ways free but the source code is available for analysis.

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Free Software

● “Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price.● Freedom to

● Run (freedom 0)● Study how program works (freedom 1)● Redistribute copies (freedom 2)● Modify / improvise (freedom 3)

● So you may get the software at no cost but as per the license you can run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software.

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Open Source Software● Source code is open (available for user)● You can modify source code depending upon

license: not totally free● Source code is not free in the sense of users

being able to modify it and redistribute it● There are 10 points to qualify as open source

software, some are:● Free Redistribution● Availability of source code● Possibility of derived works etc

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Popular FOSS Projects

O pera t ing Sy stem s L a ng ua g es

W indo w ing Sy stem s

D eskto p E nv iro n m ents

W eb B ro w sers

Pro duct iv ity A pplica t io ns

O ffice Suites

Serv er-ty pe

so ftw a re

L i n u x (o r G N U / L i n u x )

F re e B S D

O p e n B S D N e t B S D

G N U / H u rd

G N U C /C + +

P e rl

P yt h o n

T c l

T h e X W i n d o w S y s t e m

X F re e 8 6

G N O M E

K D E

G N U S t e p X Fc e

M o z i l l a

A B IW o rd

G N U Im a g e M a n i p u l a ti o n

P ro g ra m

O p e n O ffi c e

K O ffi c e

S a m b a

A p a c h e

P h P

Z o p e M y S Q L

P o s t g r e S Q L

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Popularity of Apache Web Server

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Advantages of FOSS

● The availability of the source code and the right to modify

● The right to use the software in any way● Core software is free● Evolving software● Encourages hands on

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Advantages of FOSS 2

● Not tied to a single vendor● Big community to support● Easy Localization● Better Security● Reliability & Stability

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Disadvantages of FOSS

● No maintenance and support (unless purchased separately)

● No warranties regarding media, viruses, and performance

● Staff must be open source savvy● License terms are NOT standard/ Problems

connected to intellectual property● Hard to implement

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FOSS & Developing Nation Like Ours

● Cost Factor($200 for 1 copy of MS windows XP)● Legal issues with software● Security, reliability and stability● Collaborative problem solving● Vendor Independence/ open standards● Localization● Employment

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Who's Doing it

● FOSS Nepal Community, www.fossnepal.org.np

Madan Pursakar Pustakalay (MPP) BellaSAP IOE – LTSP initiative OLCP Nepal Etc...

● Happy Software Freedom Day.