free software: how does it work?
DESCRIPTION
This talk was the second talk at the EBU's Seminar on Open Source Oct 1st, 2nd 2007. http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/opensource/ This is an introduction to the concepts behind free software.TRANSCRIPT
(c) 2007 Rishab Aiyer Ghosh - Licensed under Creative Commons cc-by-sa 1
Free software: How does it work?
European Broadcasting Union SeminarGeneva,
October 1, 2007
Rishab Aiyer Ghosh ([email protected])
United Nations University / MERIT, Maastricht
(c) 2007 Rishab Aiyer Ghosh - Licensed under Creative Commons cc-by-sa 2
Software: the object
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Software: source code
// “hello world” program
// use standard input-output functions
#include <stdio.h>
void main () {
printf(“hello, world!\n”); // print it!
}
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Software: functionality
hello world!
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Free/Libre/Open Source Software
Software which users have freedoms to:
Use (the software's functionality)
Study (the software source code)
Distribute (at any or no price)
Change (and distribute changes)
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Free as in Freedom
Free software
=
Libre software
=
Open source software
(different terms for the same software)
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Free as in Freedom
Proprietary software
=
closed source
software without the freedom to use, study, share and modify
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Source vs Standards
Open standards: easily implemented by any software, without legal, technical, financial
barriers
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Source vs Standards
Open standards: easily implemented by any software, without legal, technical, financial
barriers
Other standards (not open!): proprietary standards, or standards which different
producers may be prevented from implementing for legal, technical or financial
reasons
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Source vs Standards
Open source uses open standards
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Source vs Standards
Open source uses open standards
Proprietary software often uses closed standards
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Source vs Standards
Open source uses open standards
Proprietary software often uses closed standards
Open standards limit vendor lock-in
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Source vs Standards
Open source uses open standards
Proprietary software often uses closed standards
Open standards limit vendor lock-in
HTML – any software can read the web
SMTP – any software can send email
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Source vs Standards
Open source uses open standards
Proprietary software often uses closed standards
Open standards limit vendor lock-in
HTML – any software can read the web
SMTP – any software can send email
DOC – works best/only with Microsoft
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Source vs Standards
Closed standards and broadcasting:
Stream only in Windows Media
=
force your audience to pay Microsoft
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+
+ users have control
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+
+ users have control
+ adapt software to your needs
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+
+ users have control
+ adapt software to your needs
+ no need to change hardware
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+
+ users have control
+ adapt software to your needs
+ no need to change hardware
+ decide when and how to change
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+
+ users have control
+ adapt software to your needs
+ no need to change hardware
+ decide when and how to change
+ no forced software upgrades
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+
+ users have control
+ adapt software to your needs
+ no need to change hardware
+ decide when and how to change
+ no forced software upgrades
+ no vendor lock-in
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ in-house support (if skills exist)
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ in-house support (if skills exist)
+ external support of your choice
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ in-house support (if skills exist)
+ external support of your choice
+ adaptable to cheaper hardware
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ in-house support (if skills exist)
+ external support of your choice
+ adaptable to cheaper hardware
+ can reduce running costs
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ no proprietary standards
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ no proprietary standards
+ give your customers choice
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ no proprietary standards
+ give your customers choice
+ increased interoperability
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ sustainability
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ sustainability
+ code forever accessible
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ sustainability
+ skills development
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ sustainability
+ skills development
+ #1 reason for developers
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ sustainability
+ skills development
+ #1 reason for developers
+ FLOSS is a training environment
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+
+ users have control
+ reduce costs
+ open standards
+ sustainability
+ skills development
+ security and quality
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– fewer users = less support
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– fewer users = less support
? but support increasing with users
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– fewer users = less support
? but support increasing with users
+ niche areas have a lot of support
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
? prop vendors want to lock you in
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
– who can i blame?
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
– who can i blame?
? not your proprietary vendor!
? service contracts for liability
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
– who can i blame?
– legal issues?
? have you read your prop. licence?
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
– who can i blame?
– legal issues?
– ease of use
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
– who can i blame?
– legal issues?
– ease of use
– mainly for end-user apps
+ rapidly improving
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– / ?
– smaller installed base
– compatibility with proprietary apps
– who can i blame?
– legal issues?
– ease of use
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Outlook
● < 20% of software is bought as a product● Rest of software – custom, in-house – has
an economics like open source● “FLOSS-related” services could account for
>30% of IT market by 2010
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Thank you
Rishab Aiyer Ghosh
UNU-MERIT / FLOSS Project
European Commission report:
www.flossimpact.eu