Introduction to
Free and Open Source Software

Miss Heng Chanthengchantheng@khmeros.infowww.khmeros.info

Open Source Software

Began in the "hacker" culture of U.S. in the 1960's and 1970's

It showed that programs could be written by a community of volunteer programmers.

1970s and 1980s different free applications are developed around the world of Internet.

The GNU is created and GPL license is drafted by Richard Stallman.

The free/open source software movement began in the "hacker" culture of U.S. computer science laboratories (Stanford, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and MIT) in the 1960's and 1970's.

The community of programmers was small, and close-knit. Code passed back and forth between the members of the community--if you made an improvement you were expected to submit your code to the community of developers. To withhold code was considered gauche--after all, you benefited from the work of your friends, you should return the favor."

In 1991, the first completed free operating system is created by Linus Torvalds as a university project: Linux.

During the 1990s, the use of Linux grows very fast in the server market (command line based).

Free Software for End Users

After 2003 Free and Open Source Software becomes competitive in the desktop and end user's application markets.

Support of Computer Companies

IBM

Sun Microsystems

HP

Dell

Good for business

Growing demand

Microsoft will be less powerful.

Can do more business for

Why is FOSS interesting for Cambodia?

Freedom to modify = Freedom to translate + Freedom to adapt

Freedom to distribute and use

Help to teach children ethical behavior

Well adapted to Cambodian economy

KhmerOS

No development without technology

Technology can only be integrated in society when it is in the local language.

Development can only happen when the country embraces technologyTechnology can only be integrated in society when everybody can access it. And then everybody can access only when it is in local language

KhmerOS 2004 - 2007

Localization

Translate

Adapt

Support Khmer Culture (spell checker)

Development of training materials

Training

ICT policy

Collaboration with government

KhmerOS Results

A complete sets of high-quality free basic applications in Khmer

An Operating system in Khmer (SUSE Linux)

A standard Khmer Unicode keyboard, a set of Khmer Unicode fonts, a Khmer Unicode typing program

Over 4.000 teachers, government officials and students trained

Advanced ICT policy

Use of Khmer software in the public education system

A country that can use ICT in its own language

Advanced ICT policy: Encourage the use of Khmer language software, FOSS and open standard which included Unicode and ODF

Open School Program

Joint project with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport to integrate ICT in education

Training students to the use of ICT in upper secondary school

Use of ICT to deliver education and to improve the quality of education

Automatize school management

Master plan for ICT in education