OPEN SOURCE (SOFTWARE SAVIOR) Justin Hanson, Dec. 3, 2008

Contents  What is Open Source  What is Free Software  Open Source Examples  Benefits  Pitfalls

Open Source  Open Source: exactly what it sounds like. The source code is available to anyone.  License variants  Modifications allowed? required or optional to report  Redistribute? With modifications included / supply patch

Free Software (  “Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer”.  HUH?

Free Software (4 Freedoms)  0. The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.  1. The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs.  2. The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.  3. The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.

Mozilla Firefox  Derived from Netscape Communicator  Netscape released source code in 1998  Commercially supported  Available for Windows, Macintosh, Linux  Competes against Window’s Internet Explorer  One step behind Firefox  Not available on Linux or Macintosh

OpenOffice  German company created StarOffice  Sun bought StarOffice, opened the source code, made freely available under OpenOffice  StarOffice still available for purchase  Available for Windows, Macintosh, Linux  Competes against Microsoft Office  Not available for Linux

LINUX (YOU ARE GOD)  Server flavor  Most widely used server operating system  Desktop flavor  Gaining in popularity  Available preloaded from major manufacturers  Competes against Microsoft

Benefits  99.9% of time no cost. $0.00  Modify to fit your needs  Project driven by market interest  Release cycle for fixes/updates more frequent

Pitfalls  NO number to call  You are your tech support

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