Introduction to Open Source Software:

How it Works, Why it's Free,

and How it Might Fit the Needs of Nonprofits

Adam Bernstein, Tech Underground & Electric Embers

Zachary Mutrux, CompuMentor
 Introduction to Open Source Software

I. Definition, Philosophy and Evangelism

a. What is open source?
b. Examples of available products
c. Developing custom open source applications
II. Evaluation and Pragmatism
a. Benefits of open source
b. Problems and obstacles to open source
c. The current status and trends in open source
III. Discussion and Q & A (and Open Source Cafe)

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 What is Open Source?

It's free software!

...but what is “free”?

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 What is Free?

● Free as in beer ($)

● Free as in freedom (gnu.org):
– Freedom to modify, fix, and redistribute
– Freedom from corporate control
– Freedom of expression
– Plus freedom to integrate, freedom from ads,
freedom from vendor lock-in...

Not all open source software is cost-free, and not all

cost-free software is open source.

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Definition of Open Source

● Technical definition:
– Source code is available to users
● Functional definition:
– Usually free ($) or cheap to acquire and use
– Primarily developed by volunteers
– Anyone can modify and customize
– Users have direct input into development
● License is much more fun to read...

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Copyleft vs. Copyright
Excerpted from Microsoft Windows XP EULA
1. GRANT OF LICENSE. Microsoft grants you the following 4. TRANSFER-Internal. You may move the Product to a
rights provided that you comply with all terms and different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you
conditions of this EULA: must completely remove the Product from the former
Workstation Computer. Transfer to Third Party. The
* Installation and use. You may install, use, access, display initial user of the Product may make a one-time
and run one copy of the Product on a single computer, transfer of the Product to another end user. The
such as a workstation, terminal or other device transfer has to include all component parts, media,
("Workstation Computer"). The Product may not be used printed materials, this EULA, and if applicable, the
by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any Certificate of Authenticity. The transfer may not be an
single Workstation Computer. You may permit a maximum indirect transfer, such as a consignment. Prior to the
of ten (10) computers or other electronic devices (each a transfer, the end user receiving the transferred Product
"Device") to connect to the Workstation Computer.... The must agree to all the EULA terms. No Rental. You may
ten connection maximum includes any indirect not rent, lease, lend or provide commercial hosting
connections made through "multiplexing" or other services to third parties with the Product.
software or hardware which pools or aggregates
connections. Except as otherwise permitted... below, you 5. LIMITATION ON REVERSE ENGINEERING,
may not use the Product to permit any Device to use, DECOMPILATION, AND DISASSEMBLY. You may not
access, display or run other executable software residing reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the
on the Workstation Computer, nor may you permit any Product, except and only to the extent that it is
Device to use, access, display, or run the Product or expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding
Product's user interface, unless the Device has a separate this limitation.
license for the Product....
6. TERMINATION. Without prejudice to any other rights,
* Reservation of Rights. Microsoft reserves all rights not Microsoft may cancel this EULA if you do not abide
expressly granted to you in this EULA.... by the terms and conditions of this EULA, in which case
you must destroy all copies of the Product and all of its
component parts.

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Copyleft vs. Copyright
Excerpted from Preamble to GNU Public License, Version 2, 1991
The licenses for most software are designed to take away your We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright
freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU the software, and (2) offer you this license which
General Public License is intended to guarantee your gives you legal permission to copy, distribute
freedom to share and change free software--to make sure and/or modify the software.
the software is free for all its users....
Also, for each author's protection and ours, we want
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, to make certain that everyone understands that
not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to there is no warranty for this free software. If the
make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies software is modified by someone else and passed
of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), on, we want its recipients to know that what they
that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, have is not the original, so that any problems
that you can change the software or use pieces of it in introduced by others will not reflect on the
new free programs; and that you know you can do these original authors' reputations.
things.
Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by
To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that software patents. We wish to avoid the danger
forbid anyone to deny you these rights or to ask you to that redistributors of a free program will individually
surrender the rights. These restrictions translate to certain obtain patent licenses, in effect making the
responsibilities for you if you distribute copies of the program proprietary. To prevent this, we have
software, or if you modify it. made it clear that any patent must be licensed
for everyone's free use or not licensed at all.
For example, if you distribute copies of such a program,
whether gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all
the rights that you have. You must make sure that they,
too, receive or can get the source code. And you must
show them these terms so they know their rights.

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Examples

Some familiar, some widely used, some recently emerging:

● Operating systems: Linux, (Mac OS X)*
● Web & email servers: Apache and Sendmail/Postfix/Qmail
● Web & db languages: PHP/Perl and MySQL/PostgreSQL
● Web content management: Drupal, Plone, Bricolage
● Virus & spam protection: ClamAV, SpamAssassin
● Desktop apps: Open Office, Mozilla, gAIM, (eBase)**
● Security: GPG
* OS X is built on open source BSD, but is proprietary and closed
** eBase is open source, but is built on proprietary and closed FileMaker Pro

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Developing Open Source

Developing open source software can mean:

– Basing it on open source technologies and open
standards
– Building on existing open source project(s)
– Open-sourcing your project
– Working collaboratively with other groups

All elements need not be present, but the greatest

benefit is derived when they are.

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Why Open Source?

● Why would someone give away valuable

software?

● Why would someone work without pay?

● Why would you pick this software?

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Motivation for Developers

Why give it away?

– Benefit from the previous work of others
– Better software, when others can fix it
– Many hands make light work
Why work for free?
– The good feelings from any volunteerism
– Respect, fame, pride in one's creation
– Actually, not everyone works for free

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 The Practical Appeal

Open source has practical benefits for all:

– “Better”: More stable, secure, interoperable
– You can make a difference
– Little or no licensing cost, upgrade costs
– Good community support, direct line to developers
– Lower system requirements
– Freedom to change your mind

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 The Philosophical Appeal

Open Source also has particular appeal for

the nonprofit and public sectors:
– Mission-driven, not profit-driven
– It's about Family Values
– Of, By and For the People
– Public monies = public resource
– Support local economy

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 The Downsides

There are problems with going Open Source:

– Rough user interfaces, documentation
– Compatibility: It's hard being different
– Transition requires work/time/energy/money
– Support: Where does the buck stop?
– Bill Gates says: Open Source software will destroy
your emerging capitalist economy.

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Progress of Open Source

● Dominant in its traditional realm of Internet

services (see Web server stats)
● Growing as a LAN server
● Moving towards the desktop
– Eg. Xandros desktop Linux (xandros.org) with
Crossover Office to run Windows applications
– Open source is not “all or nothing”, and migration for
most users is gradual

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Web Server Usage

Source: Netcraft.com automated survey of live Web hosts

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 A Few Open Source Projects

Linux Terminal Server Project (ltsp.org)

– Continue using or recycle obsolete hardware (save $$$)
OpenGroupware (opengroupware.org)
– Eventual MS Exchange-killer?
Jhai Foundation (jhaifoundation.org)
– Wireless footcrank-powered solid-state Linux
computers, bringing telephony and Internet to rural Laos

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 Current Sector Trends

Government mandates:
– Massachusetts: Enterprise Open Standards and
Open Source Policy (http://tinyurl.com/33u5q)
“The state isn't looking to shake up its entire enterprise infrastructure, but
to approach IT more logically.”
– Many national governments, in developed and
developing world (http://ltsp.org/OpenSourceSoftware.pdf)
Nonprofit sector initiatives:
– Nonprofit Open Source Initiative (NOSI.net)
– Aspiration (aspirationtech.org)

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)
 References
● Free Software Foundation: gnu.org
● Xandros desktop Linux: xandros.org
● Linux Terminal Server Project: ltsp.org
● Jhai Foundation: jhaifoundation.org
● Nonprofit Open Source Initiative, with Primer for nonprofits: NOSI.net
● Aspiration software incubation: aspirationtech.org
● “Open Source Software: Perspectives for Development”:
ltsp.org/OpenSourceSoftware.pdf
● “The Open Road: Massachusetts drafts a statewide policy...”:
govtech.net/magazine/story.print.php?id=87471
● Tech Underground consultants: techunderground.org
● CompuMentor consultants: compumentor.org

Introduction to Open Source Software, A. Bernstein and Z. Mutrux, 05/21/2004

Created in OpenOffice 1.1.1 (http://www.openoffice.org)