Open Source Software Alternatives: Wave of the Future? CS 99 2/8/2005 CS 99 2/8/2005

GNU (“guh-noo”) FGNU Project launched 1983 by Richard Stallman FGNU Preamble: F“The purpose of this License is to make a manual, textbook, or other functional and useful document "free" in the sense of freedom: to assure everyone the effective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or without modifying it, either commercially or non-commercially. Secondarily, this License preserves for the author and publisher a way to get credit for their work, while not being considered responsible for modifications made by others.” FGNU Project launched 1983 by Richard Stallman FGNU Preamble: F“The purpose of this License is to make a manual, textbook, or other functional and useful document "free" in the sense of freedom: to assure everyone the effective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or without modifying it, either commercially or non-commercially. Secondarily, this License preserves for the author and publisher a way to get credit for their work, while not being considered responsible for modifications made by others.”

GNU Licensed Software FEmacs, gcc, Perl, OpenOffice FOpenOffice (Free) vs. Microsoft Office ($239) FOpenOffice is compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access FGNU Suite Paired with Linux Kernel (Open source) FEmacs, gcc, Perl, OpenOffice FOpenOffice (Free) vs. Microsoft Office ($239) FOpenOffice is compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access FGNU Suite Paired with Linux Kernel (Open source)

Mozilla Firefox FOpen source web browser released fall 2004 FRecent Boston Globe Article: F''Firefox was a big breakthrough," Kapor, who also sits on the Mozilla board, said in an interview. ''It crossed the great divide by taking open source into new territory. The goal for 2005 is to get usable software into people's hands, to create more open source channels." FOpen source web browser released fall 2004 FRecent Boston Globe Article: F''Firefox was a big breakthrough," Kapor, who also sits on the Mozilla board, said in an interview. ''It crossed the great divide by taking open source into new territory. The goal for 2005 is to get usable software into people's hands, to create more open source channels."

Internet Explorer Alternative F“Firefox, available as a free download on computers powered by Microsoft's dominant Windows operating system and Apple's OS X, as well as Linux, caught on partly because of disenchantment with security holes in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. In the two months since its release, more than 12 million people have downloaded the Firefox browser, which has claimed 4.1 percent of US browser usage” FConstant need for IE security patches in recent months F“Firefox, available as a free download on computers powered by Microsoft's dominant Windows operating system and Apple's OS X, as well as Linux, caught on partly because of disenchantment with security holes in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. In the two months since its release, more than 12 million people have downloaded the Firefox browser, which has claimed 4.1 percent of US browser usage” FConstant need for IE security patches in recent months

Linux vs. Windows FLinux Going Pro: FJan Business Week Article: FTorvalds now has a team of lieutenants, nearly all of them employed by tech companies, that oversees development of top-priority projects. Tech giants such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Intel are clustered around the Finn, contributing technology, marketing muscle, and thousands of professional programmers. IBM alone has 600 programmers dedicated to Linux, up from two in There's even a board of directors that helps set the priorities for Linux development. FLinux Going Pro: FJan Business Week Article: FTorvalds now has a team of lieutenants, nearly all of them employed by tech companies, that oversees development of top-priority projects. Tech giants such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Intel are clustered around the Finn, contributing technology, marketing muscle, and thousands of professional programmers. IBM alone has 600 programmers dedicated to Linux, up from two in There's even a board of directors that helps set the priorities for Linux development.

Benefits FThe result of this investment will be much more powerful, robust, user supported software. FRed Hat-$35 for single license to $1500 for high-end server version FHP sales of servers running Linux hit $2 billion, doubling from previous fiscal year F“In the Linux community, this kind of red- meat capitalism is combined with the sharing philosophy of the open-source movement.” FLinux is forcing Microsoft to make discounts or lose sales FThe result of this investment will be much more powerful, robust, user supported software. FRed Hat-$35 for single license to $1500 for high-end server version FHP sales of servers running Linux hit $2 billion, doubling from previous fiscal year F“In the Linux community, this kind of red- meat capitalism is combined with the sharing philosophy of the open-source movement.” FLinux is forcing Microsoft to make discounts or lose sales

Open Source Trends F12 million copies of Firefox downloaded in 2 months FWalmart line of $500 computers loaded with Linux distribution FSaves $100-$150 from price of Windows license FLinux has become increasingly popular in corporate/business environments FNovell (SUSE) spokesman: “As people start to get introduced to desktop Linux in a corporate environment, they'll start to use it at home as well. There are cost advantages that, over time, will be appealing to home users.” F12 million copies of Firefox downloaded in 2 months FWalmart line of $500 computers loaded with Linux distribution FSaves $100-$150 from price of Windows license FLinux has become increasingly popular in corporate/business environments FNovell (SUSE) spokesman: “As people start to get introduced to desktop Linux in a corporate environment, they'll start to use it at home as well. There are cost advantages that, over time, will be appealing to home users.”

Current Mozilla Open Source Projects FChandler project - ambitious platform combining , task management, data storage, and other free-floating features into a more intuitive system. FProject combining Thunderbird e- mail client with Subird calendar FChandler project - ambitious platform combining , task management, data storage, and other free-floating features into a more intuitive system. FProject combining Thunderbird e- mail client with Subird calendar

Open Source Companies FIBM - Apache Web Server FNovell - SUSE Linux FApple - core layers of OS X Server was open source BSD OS Darwin FSun - Mozilla Web browser FRed Hat - extremely successful Linux distribution FIBM - Apache Web Server FNovell - SUSE Linux FApple - core layers of OS X Server was open source BSD OS Darwin FSun - Mozilla Web browser FRed Hat - extremely successful Linux distribution

Conclusion F“Let's just say you have an irresistible force and an immovable object. The irresistible force is open source, and the immovable object is the Windows operating environment. I would expect there would be increasing collisions over the next decade."

Sources FWeisman, Robert. “Group aims to capitalize on Firefox success.” 1/10/2005. The Boston Globe Online. articles/2005/01/10/group_aims_to_capitalize_ on_firefox_success/ articles/2005/01/10/group_aims_to_capitalize_ on_firefox_success/ FWikipedia:Text of the GNU Free Documentation License F“Linux, Inc.” nt/05_05/b _mz001.htm?campaign_id =nws_insdr_jan21&link_position=link1 nt/05_05/b _mz001.htm?campaign_id =nws_insdr_jan21&link_position=link1 F“GNU.” Wikepedia Encyclopedia. FWeisman, Robert. “Group aims to capitalize on Firefox success.” 1/10/2005. The Boston Globe Online. articles/2005/01/10/group_aims_to_capitalize_ on_firefox_success/ articles/2005/01/10/group_aims_to_capitalize_ on_firefox_success/ FWikipedia:Text of the GNU Free Documentation License F“Linux, Inc.” nt/05_05/b _mz001.htm?campaign_id =nws_insdr_jan21&link_position=link1 nt/05_05/b _mz001.htm?campaign_id =nws_insdr_jan21&link_position=link1 F“GNU.” Wikepedia Encyclopedia.

FThis Presentation has been created with Microsoft Powerpoint, because my (Apple) computer came with it.