Free Open

The four freedoms of Free Software

This requires the source code

The four freedoms of Free Software

This requires the source code

Free vs proprietary Open Obfuscation Sourcecode

adding value scarcity + software itself has value Free vs proprietary Revenue

Freedom is scary e.g. the Craig Mundie speech of May 3, 2001 Much of the FUD

often The world of business is not simple!

Ray Noorda, the founder of Novell a situation where businesses compete in some areas and cooperate in others

Ray Noorda, the founder of Novell a situation where businesses compete in some areas and cooperate in others

Approaches Use existing –The organisation uses existing FOSS tools, such as GNU/Linux, and does not contribute to their development. Adapt existing –The organisation makes minor adaptations of existing tools to serve its own peculiar business needs. Join a project –The organisation puts resources, either money or a software developer, into an existing project. Sponsor a project –The organisation sponsors an external agency to create a tool on its behalf, and may assist that agency to locate other sponsors who could join the project. Create a project –The organisation creates a new project, puts its own developers onto writing the software and seeks other sponsors or others who may join the project. Product Process

Have a need for software

Have a need for software Procurement

Have a need for software

Flux

Product orientation

Process orientation Product orientation

This system cannot be understood by..

… knowledge of this system

Building capacity to develop, deploy, and support software in African higher education institutions through Free Software collaboration

The cost of participation in AVOIR is thus low… …and the potential benefits are high The cost of participation in AVOIR is thus low… …and the potential benefits are high Free Software

AVOIR members

Research objectives To create a network of software development organized around, but not limited to, higher education in Africa; To use the network to understand how ideas from knowledge ecology can create a sustainable system of FOSS development, application and support; To increase understanding of FOSS as a process, and how to use that process creatively and sustainably within Africa To help to build research capacity in researching the development, application and support of FOSS in Africa within African institutions; To test hypotheses regarding differences between Free Software and Proprietary Software ecosystems

Research objectives To create a network of software development organized around, but not limited to, higher education in Africa; To use the network to understand how ideas from knowledge ecology can create a sustainable system of FOSS development, application and support; To increase understanding of FOSS as a process, and how to use that process creatively and sustainably within Africa To help to build research capacity in researching the development, application and support of FOSS in Africa within African institutions; To test hypotheses regarding differences between Free Software and Proprietary Software ecosystems The first project A next generation e-learning system designed around the needs of African higher education Collaborative education Cross platform Interoperable A next generation e-learning system designed around the needs of African higher education Collaborative education Cross platform Interoperable

A bit on architecture MVC architecture for web interface –PHP –Modular Webservices blur distinction between desktop and web –PHP, C#, some Java PETS and other agents –Python, some PERL

Current status Using webservices to provide desktop functionality, yet interface to web application First beta C. 70 working modules Two desktop applications done in C# (with support from Microsoft SA) –Translation application –Offline content authoring Integrated Freemind, mind mapping tool in Java Active dynamic mirroring –in testing (alpha) –Win-Lin, Lin-Win, Lin-Lin

Sustainability Percentage of funding from different sources Research & development Research & development

Sustainability Percentage of funding from different sources

Sustainability Percentage of funding from different sources

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