The Transition to Linux Goes Through Windows
What's easier? To completely move to a FOSS-compliant OS immediately, or to start the transition to FOSS world by using their apps on Windows? Sam Rawlins investigates.
Open Source Archive
Open Source Has No Future in RP, Says Expert
Despite having pockets of communities spread across the country, open source software (OSS) has no future in the country's budding software development business, according to a software development expert.
General Public License – a Summary Guide
There is so much controversy surrounding the Open Source General Public License (GPL) - especially with regard to the SCO v IBM case - that it makes a sense to review the simple basic legal points involved, writes Bloor Research president Robin Bloor.
Has Open Source Reached Its Limits?
"Is it possible that, despite all the hype, open source is not necessarily the best way to develop software? That it's not about to take over the software industry, and that it's no more a threat to Microsoft than were Netscape, the Macintosh or Word Perfect?" Read the analysis by Tony Healy.
Will Open Source Come to the Rescue?
Over the past months we have heard about how free and open source software (FOSS) is becoming more and more acceptable in the business community. There has also been a movement to have governments adopt policies that open the door to FOSS. However, it appears that the open source community has overlooked one vital area of the community that would most likely embrace FOSS with open arms, and that is the area of emergency services (Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services).
Six Barriers to Open Source Adoption
We all know about the benefits of open source software in lowering total cost of ownership, offering more choice and the increasing quality and functionality of the code. The rise of Linux as an edge server and now migrating toward the data center is clear validation that the open source model has taken root. But there are still significant barriers to overcome before Linux and other open source projects are broadly accepted across enterprises, says ZDNet's Dan Farber.
12 Reasons Andreessen Is Hot On Open Source
Marc Andreessen, co-founder of trailblazer Netscape Communications, can spot a long-term trend. So when Opsware Inc.--another company Andreessen co-founded and chairs--introduced its Opsware System 4 software on Linux in December, some of his faithful fans doubtless took the move as a sign of things to come.
Opinion: Software Freedom Day 2004
You, the reader, are hereby invited to participate in a celebration of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) on August 28th this year. On that day we will stage public events to inform the general public about the virtues of FOSS. We invite you to form local teams and set up tables in town centers, shopping malls, or wherever there are likely to be lots of people on a Saturday.
A Customer-Driven Approach to Open Software: “Community Code”
The Open Source model – and by Open Source we mean products that adhere to the Open Source Initiative (OSI) guidelines – doesn't, and may never, work for many important software domains. All religious fervor aside, this is a reality because customers say so. We may want it to be otherwise, but the ultimate arbiters in the Open Source versus proprietary debate are customers.
Companies are Facing a Cannibalizing Dilemma
Once every three months, Alan Nugent, chief technology officer of billion-dollar software company Novell, sits down with a small group of colleagues to decide what software the company will give away for free.
What’s Wrong with the Open Source Community
There's no question that the open source community has a lot going for it. Besides a staggering amount of developer power that can be turned against important problems, the open source movement also has a passion and commitment that the commercial software world often envies.
Richard Stallman on 20 years of GNU
Last week saw the 20th anniversary of Richard Stallman's decision to quit the MIT and start the GNU Project in 1984, with a goal to creating a platform using 'free' software that a user can run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve: the GNU operating system which used widely today in its GNU/Linux form. A year later he founded the Free Software Foundation, a body that seeks to further the development and use of free software. He is also the author of the GNU General Public Licence, the licence under which free software can be distributed. Read his interview with Matt Whipp at PCPro.
Stallman: State of Free Software Address
Richard Stallman wrote a short editorial on the 20th anniversary of GNU. It's a summary of what he considers needs to be done now.
The Open Source Dilemma for Governments
In this artile, at Consulting Times, they discuss the costs in the terms of lives and dollars when local governments do not deploy open standards based software for data sharing. Can local governments afford to create redundant applications to meet new Federal standards for first responder alerts, emergency services, law enforcement, broadcasters? Open Source collaborative initiatives may provide the only solution for the US if the people want to create a safer environment.
Two Interviews at FOSDEM
In preparation for the upcoming FOSDEM confrerence, organizers have posted interviews with Jonathan Corbet, author of the reference book "Writing Linux Device Drivers" and Denis Oliver Kropp, one of the main developers for the DirectFB project, two of the planned participants.
How to Misunderstand Open Source
This article intends to clear up some misconceptions about open source software development practices. It can help developers, IT and business managers transition from a closed development environment to an open one characterized by shorter time-to-market and lower costs. The author, Tom Adelstein -- an experienced CPA, code developer, project manager and consultant -- makes clear the notion that Open Source Software bears a mark of professionalism. Full Story
The Open Code Market
"The Open Code Market (OCM) is both an open market for code, as well as a market for open code. However, it aims mainly to become a free market for software, as well as a market for Free Software. The OCM introduces into the Free/Open Source movement an economic incentive, to help align the priorities of Free/Open Source developers with those of the end users." Read the article here.
How can Free Software Compete with Commercial Developers?
"The amazing thing about the free vs. proprietary software race is that free software is in it at all. With all the resources larger proprietary software companies have at their command, you'd think their products would be unfailingly easy to use, virtually bug-free, and priced so low that no one would mind paying for them. But this is not the case. Why isn't it?" Read the article at NewsForge.
Ambrosia Software CEO: Open Source Software Economics
The CEO of the legendary Mac software house Ambrosia Software wrote an article about the economics of Open Source and how does it fit to the market.
SCO Attacks Open-Source Foundation
In its lawsuit against IBM, the SCO Group has begun a direct challenge to the General Public License--the legal foundation for Linux, numerous other open-source programming projects and software SCO still ships today.