1. Slide 1 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 Open Source Software in the European Statistical System by Leonhard Maqua, Eurostat

2. Slide 2 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 What is OSS? The three freedoms of OSS  Free, non-discriminatory access to the software including the source code  Freedom to modify the program  OSS is free of obligations to the creator (no commitment to any obligations, like maintenance, warranty etc)

3. Slide 3 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 Three good reasons for the European Statistical System to care for OSS Publishing software developed in our IDABC project X-DIS ensures the long- term sustainability OSS is the ideal method for National Statistical Institutes to co-operate in the development of software Publishing software as OSS is advantageous for public administrations

4. Slide 4 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 It is advantageous for public administrations to publish their software as OSS  Minimal liability at a maximum of trust  OSS enables non-discriminatory public procurement – no binding to a contractor even in the case of continuation of development  Better packaging in documentation allows for easier take- over in the case of changes in the development team or contractor  No (explicit or implicit) long-term commitment to further develop the software

5. Slide 5 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 OSS Action Plan under IDABC  Extension of the existing ad hoc repository of raw data collection software under the CORD Task Force into a general CIRCA IG “OSS and Statistics”  Building up a repository of links to all kinds of statistical OSS  Decision to release Eurostat software as OSS (subject to a Commission decision), starting with applications developed under IDA and IDABC  Inventory of products developed within the ESS for which release as OSS could be envisaged;  Investigation of the willingness of Member States to release software as OSS;  Establishing guidelines for packaging source code and making available documentation for developers and end users

6. Slide 6 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 A CIRCA Group on OSS Interest group “OSS and Statistics” Can be found under http://circa.europa.eu/dsishttp://circa.europa.eu/dsis Read access is free - all information is public Contributions are welcome, contributors are asked to subscribe t the group Discussion forum (Newsgroup) open to all registered CIRCA users.

7. Slide 7 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 Some Guidelines for Publishing OSS Choose a good name Choose a suitable license Choose a development platform widely and/or freely available Tell your programmers that the code will be published as OSS Create a website with short description and download facility for documentation and Communicate with the users of your software, they may become contributors

8. Slide 8 Eurostat Unit B3 – Statistical Information Technology Release date: 24.04.2007 The Next Steps Eurostat officially publishes GESMES and SDMX tools under EUPL Survey on existing and potential OSS in statistical administrations Eurostat intends to publish a fair number of other applications under EUPL ITDG will discuss OSS extensively, a joint issue paper with some Member States will prepare the grounds for an OSS strategy paper for the SPC.