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Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) : - An Introduction

Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) is defined as software where the source code is made available to users who can modify it. The history of FOSS includes the Free Software Foundation, GNU/Linux, and Eric Raymond's experiment comparing the "cathedral" and "bazaar" models of software development. FOSS provides advantages like reliability, security, lower costs, and freedom from vendor control. It allows users freedom to use, modify, and redistribute the software under licenses like the GNU General Public License. Examples of FOSS activities in India include user groups, localization projects, and contributions to software like KDE and GNOME.

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Asha Shanthakumar
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56 views15 pages

Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) : - An Introduction

Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) is defined as software where the source code is made available to users who can modify it. The history of FOSS includes the Free Software Foundation, GNU/Linux, and Eric Raymond's experiment comparing the "cathedral" and "bazaar" models of software development. FOSS provides advantages like reliability, security, lower costs, and freedom from vendor control. It allows users freedom to use, modify, and redistribute the software under licenses like the GNU General Public License. Examples of FOSS activities in India include user groups, localization projects, and contributions to software like KDE and GNOME.

Uploaded by

Asha Shanthakumar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Free/Open Source Software (FOSS)

-An Introduction

NRCFOSS

Topics Covered
FOSS Definition History of FOSS The FOSS Concept Advantages of Using FOSS FOSS Activities in India
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Definition
Free/open Source software (F/OSS) is software for which the Source code is made available to the users who can further modify it to suit their needs.

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History of FOSS
Free Software Foundation Richard Stallman The GNU/Linux Story X consortium -X Windowing system Perl by Larry Wall Eric S Raymond's experiment with Fetchmail Cathedral Vs Bazaar
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The FOSS Concept


Free as in Freedom It does not mean "No Cost" but it refers to the lack of constraint. Free Software allows you freedom to Run the program, for any purpose Modify the program Redistribute copies gratis or for a fee
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How an Open Source Software gets Developed

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Cathedral vs Bazaar
Multiple Users as Co-developers Software development in Collaboration Bug fixing is fast and easy

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Some Tools to Enable Collaborative development


Available in web repositories like

www.sourceforge.net www.tigris.org www.sarovar.org


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Advantages of Using FOSS


Reliability . Security . Combats Piracy . Total Cost of Ownership . Non Quantitative Issues
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Advantages of Using FOSS


(contd.)

Freedom from control by another Protection from licensing litigation Flexibility Social/Moral/Ethical Issues Innovation
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License

A license is the authors way of allowing use of their creation by others, in modes that are acceptable to them.

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11

GNU General Public License


Freedom to
Run the program, for any purpose Study how the program works and modify it Redistribute copies

Obligation
The distributed copies, including the modifications, must also be licensed under GPL

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12

FOSS Activities in India


(a few examples)
Active user groups of GNU/Linux in various Indian cities Goa Schools Computers Project GSCP A collaborative effort Localisation of GNU/Linux in Tamil, Hindi, Gujrathi, Bengali and Punjabi Contributions to KDE, GNOME
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FOSS Activities in India


(contd.)
Anjuta -IDE for C & C++ on GNU/Linux by Naba Kumar Mayavi Scientific Data Visualizer Bugster Software to share MP3 and OGG KGDB Kernel patch to debug the Linux Kernel
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NRCFOSS
jointly implemented by AU-KBC Centre, MIT Campus, Anna University, Chennai & C-DAC, Chennai
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