Open Source Software Bangladesh University of Business and Technology Nizar Saadi Dahir M.Sc. Computer Engineering Computer Center- Kufa University Group member Zahaid Mahmood id:41 Naim hossain
What Software is Needed? ► Operating Systems ► Application Software ► Software Development Tools ► Web services ► Database Servers and RDBMS’s
What is open-source software (OSS)? ► Software comes in the form of compiled code (binaries), and the human-readable source code from which these binaries are compiled. Open- source software is software whereby the software is distributed in the form of binaries as well as source code. ► The distributor cannot restrict any party from redistributing the software, nor can any party be restricted from making modifications or making derivative works based on the source code.
What is open-source software (OSS)? (continued) ► Open Source Software (OSS) is an example of a second order Internet effect. ► The first order was commercialization through buying and selling (e.g., Amazon and eBay). ► The second order is based on collaboration and information sharing (e.g., Facebook) ► Programmers throughout the world can be engaged in software development.
What open-source software is available? ► Multi-user Networked Operating Systems o Linux :The most popular OSS operating system on the planet ► Internet/intranet Services and Applications o Apache web server - Accounts for over 60% of the web servers on the Internet o BIND name server - The software that provides the DNS (domain name service). Many of the root name servers as well as the Internet backbone network ISPs use BIND o Sendmail mail (Exchange server) - The most widely used transport software on the Internet
What open-source software is available? (continued) ► Software Development o GCC - The compiler for C, C++, Fortran, Java, that comes standard with all the major OSS operating systems o JBOSS - A popular open-source implementation of J2EE o Perl - A very popular language widely used in scripts to drive `live content’ on the World Wide Web o PHP - A very popular scripting language for interactive web development and applications o Python - A popular object-oriented scripting language for web and desktop development
► Database Systems o MySQL - A very popular open-source RDBMS o PostgreSQL - A popular open-source RDBMS with many advanced features ► Desktop Applications o OpenOffice.org - An integrated office suite featuring word- processing, spreadsheet, drawing and presentation software largely compatible with Microsoft Office o Ximian Evolution - A GUI desktop application for personal , calendar and diary having similar look and feel with Microsoft Outlook o Mozilla - The open-source evolution of the popular Netscape web browser What open-source software is available? (continued)
Open Source Software licensing and copyright ► The two most common types of OSS licensing are: o BSD Style: this category of license allows one to take an open-source software and redistribute it with or without modifications as proprietary software. (e.g. Apache, BIND ) o GNU GPL General Public License : It is a license that requires that the product derived from the original open-source software must also be distributed under the same licensing regime as the original. Thus it cannot be turned into a closed- source product. (e.g. Linux) o for more details
Can We Count On OSS? ► OSS is developed and/or maintained by volunteer programmers so is a single party fully accountable for it ? ► Yes, For Common open source project we find a non-profit foundations or normal businesses supporting the software ► For example, Apache is supported through the Apache Software Foundation and Red Hat Linux is supported and maintained by Red Hat Corporation
Can We Get Support On OSS? ► The most frequently cited reasons against using OSS in corporations is the lack of support. ► In Propriety CSS we can relay on the vendor for support. ► But, There exists professional companies providing service and support for open-source (e.g.Red Hat for Linux, Zend for PHP, and recently Sun Microsystems for MySQL) ► The Internet is another great source of informal support that is efficient (Newsgroups, FAQ’s and HOW-TO documents).
Is OSS secure? ► A common charge against open source is that it is inherently insecure because as the source code is readily available. ► But, it also enables anyone who wishes, solve the weaknesses in the design and coding to discovering the vulnerabilities before the attackers and making the software more secure. ► Reporting of bugs and vulnerabilities by users can be treated much sooner than CSS. ► They can do that without the a permission (which is not possible with Proprietary CSS).
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