Free and open source software, also F/OSS, FOSS, or FLOSS (free/libre/open source software) is software which is liberally licensed to grant the right of users to study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code. This approach has gained both momentum and acceptance as the potential benefits have been increasingly recognized by both individuals and corporate players.[1][2]
'F/OSS' is an inclusive term generally synonymous with both free software and open source software which describe similar development models, but with differing cultures and philosophies. 'Free software' focuses on the philosophical freedoms it gives to users and 'open source' focuses on the perceived strengths of its peer-to-peer development model. Many people relate to both aspects and so 'F/OSS' is a term that can be used without particular bias towards either camp.
Free software licenses and Open-source licenses are used by many software packages. The licenses have important differences, which mirror the differences in the ways the two kinds of software can be used and distributed and reflect differences in the philosophy behind the two.[3]
Today the terms "free software" and "free open source software" (FOSS) and "free libre open source software" (FLOSS) generally mean the same thing. Despite disagreements about independently important but relatively minor differences, the simple term "open source" originally had the same meaning as FOSS/FLOSS for several years, nicely guarded, but not trademarked, by the Open Source Initiative. However, by mid 2007 enough companies were opening some source to hop on the open source bandwagon, while keeping other advanced functionality closed, that the common meaning of "open source" came to include what is now called "Commercial Open Source Software" (COSS) as well. Today either the specific terms free software/FOSS/FLOSS or COSS are often used instead of the more general term "open source" in order to differentiate between the two different models and preserve the original meaning of the free software/FOSS/FLOSS space.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to release shareware as open source, if all the code is released. The reason for this is that knowledgeable users can remove limitations normally removed by paying for the software.
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Community support
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In January 2008 Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced software governance initiative to address the legal, financial and security risks connected with the adoption of FOSS.[4] The project is supported by other companies like OpenLogic, Google and Novell.[5] FOSSology is a tool for tracking and monitoring the use of free and open-source software within an IT environment and is available under the terms of the GNU General Public License (version 2),[6] FOSSBazaar is a web site that hosts discussion groups and information resources on how to adopt and manage free/open source code.[7]
Adoption
See also: Linux adoption- In 2005 the Government of Peru voted to adopt open source across all its bodies.[8] The 2002 response to Microsoft's critique is available online. In the preamble to the bill, the Peruvian government stressed that the choice was made to ensure that key pillars of democracy were safeguarded: "The basic principles which inspire the Bill are linked to the basic guarantees of a state of law."[9]
- In December 2004, law in Venezuela (Decree 3390) went into effect, mandating a two year transition to open source in all public agencies. As of June 2009 this ambitious transition is still under way. [10][11]
- The Netherlands has an initiative called Open Source en standaarden in het onderwijs, "Open source and standards in education". [12]
- Vietnam - the Ministry of Information and Communications has issued an instruction on using open source software at state agencies.[13]
- Malaysian Public Sector Open Source Software Program launched in 2004 saved millions on proprietary software licences till 2008[14][15]
- The Government of India has set up a resource centre for Free and Open Source Software managed jointly by C-DAC Chennai and Anna University, Chennai. It has one of its node in Mumbai at VJTI College[16]
- The Ministry of Defence in Singapore began migrating its computers from Microsoft to free software in 2004, while South Korea, China and Japan agreed to cooperate in creating new Linux-based programs.[citation needed]
- In Germany's federal state Thuringia the Ministry for culture and education has launched a project called "Linux für Schulen" (Linux for schools) which is intended to further the influences of Open Source software in public education.
- Munich city civil service in Germany, 2003 started escaping to free software.
- In February 2008, the Dominican Republic passed a law to facilitate the migration of all public entities (government, education, etc.) to Software Libre, and to adopt open standards in the public sector.
- In April 2008, Ecuador passed a similar law, Decree 1014, designed to migrate the public sector to Software Libre.
- As of September 2008 there is a similar proposal, currently under debate in the Bolivian Congress, which stipulates the migration of the public sector to Software Libre.
See also
- Alternative terms for free software
- Floss manuals
- Free software community
- Free Software Foundation
- Graphics hardware and FOSS
- Hacker Culture
- Open source licenses
- Open source software
- Software wars
References
- ^ Hatlestad, Luc (2005-08-09). "LinuxWorld Showcases Open-Source Growth, Expansion". InformationWeek. CMP Media, LLC. Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5Tchd69ij. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
- ^ Claburn, Thomas (January 17, 2007). "Study Finds Open Source Benefits Business". InformationWeek. CMP Media LLC. Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5TchF5fkl. Retrieved on 11 2 5 2007.
- ^ Barr, Joe (1998). "Why “Free Software” is better than “Open Source”" (in English). Free Software Foundation. Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5TchyyzYm. Retrieved on 2007-11-25. .
- ^ HP Promotes Open Source Software Governance with New Initiative
- ^ OpenLogic: HP hogged FOSS limelight
- ^ HP launches open source tracking tool
- ^ HP's 'Fossology' Offers Help In Open Source Governance
- ^ [1]
- ^ National Advisory Council on Innovation Open Software Working Group (July 2004). "Free/Libre & Open Source Software and Open Standards in South Africa" (PDF). http://www.naci.org.za/pdfs/floss_v2_6_9.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-05-31.
- ^ Venezuela Open Source
- ^ Chavez, Hugo F. (December 2004). "Publicado en la Gaceta oficial No 38.095 de fecha 28/ 12/ 2004 (Spanish Language)". http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cenit.gob.ve%2Fcenitcms%2Fservlet%2Fcom.mvdcomm.cms.andocasociado%3F5%2C64&ei=exWqSbzYEYjWnQetxLjXDw&usg=AFQjCNFJeNhXh8KBljw8SK2VSFiaT8GWug&sig2=cJFlnI1Ob10dbypPaF8vIw. Retrieved on 2009-03-01.
- ^ OSS in het Onderwijs :: Goed bekeken!
- ^ http://english.vietnamnet.vn/tech/2009/01/822425/
- ^ http://www.oscc.org.my/
- ^ http://knowledge.oscc.org.my/newsletters/first-quarterly-e-newsletter-jan-2009
- ^ NRC-FOSS Helpline article - http://nrcfosshelpline.in/web/full/26/NW/
Further reading
- Peter H. Salus (2005-03-28), A History of Free and Open Source, Groklaw.
- David A. Wheeler (2007-04-16), Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers!.
External links
| Wikibooks has a book on the topic of FLOSS Concept Booklet |
- A Weekly Podcast with Leo Laporte and Randal Schwartz on FLOSS
- FOSSBazaar — community for free and open source software governance
- Free / Open Source Research Community (mit.edu)
- FreeOpenSourceSoftware.org - Wiki on FOSS history, organizations, licenses, people, software.
- International Free and Open Source Software Foundation
- Open Source Enters the Mainstream According to Findings from the Actuate Annual Open Source Survey for 2008
- Open Source Observatory and Repository
- Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa
Categories: Free software culture and documents | Free software | Software licenses | Libre
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