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The use of FLOSS in Governments
The document discusses the use of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) in governments, emphasizing the importance of FLOSS policies for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in public services. It outlines case studies, like South Africa's policy which mandates the adoption of FLOSS unless a proprietary software is proven superior, and highlights the need for accountability and adherence to open standards in software procurement. The document advocates for promoting FLOSS policies, open standards, and fair procurement practices within government operations.
The use of FLOSS in Governments
- 1. Presentation by: N ico Elema GOVERNMENT OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE RESOURCE CENTRE – GOV-OSS-RC www.gossrc.org THE USE OF FLOSS IN GOVERNMENTS The use of FLOSS in Governments by Nico Elema is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. www.gossrc.org
- 2. GOVERMENT OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE RESOURCECENTRE www.gossrc.org
- 3. Where did itall begin?
- 4. GOV-OSS-RC Endorsements ● University of the Western Cape (South Africa) ● Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) ● Open Source Software Institute (USA) ● Government Open Source Conference GOSCON
- 5. What do wedo? Helping you access information on how Governments, from around the world, are using Free/Libre and Open Source Software
- 6. What do wedo? Collect information on global level. Training Research
- 7. GOV-OSS-RC Research ENTERPRISE GIS Proprietary Solution: FLOSS Solution • MS SQL; Oracle; PostgreSQL • PostgreSQL (database) (database) • PostGIS (spatially enables PostgreSQL) • ArcGIS Server – Standard (SDE + • Mapserver (Internet map generator) Map serving on web) • MapWindow GIS/Quantum GIS (desktop • ArcEditor (1 license)(Edit maps on GIS analysis and capture) desktop) • ArcView ( 15 nonc licenses (3 per LA)) for Desktop analysis • 15 non-concurrent desktop users; • Unlimited desktop and browser unlimited browser viewers. users • 1 GIS user that can edit data. • GIS & Db License fees: • Min GIS License fees: US$0.00 (Excluding US$ 52 500.00(excluding servers) server and Database software)
- 9. Syndication contributors * FreeSoftware and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) and mailing lists * GOSCON (USA) * NRCFOSS - India * Open Source Industry Australia * OSOR.eu – Open Source Observatory and Repository (Europe) * ossa.org.za (SA) * OSSI News and Updates (USA) * Tectonic (SA) * UKGovOSS.org (UK)
- 11. Is it possibleto report on Government FLOSS use per country? It is possible to report on focus areas and lessons learnt
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- 13. It is possibleto report on focus areas and lessons learnt
- 14. Focus of governmentsand pressure groups Developing FLOSS policies Promote open standards Procurement – levelling the playing field
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- 16. Why do govneed FLOSS Policy? India 2010 (GoI): GoI aim to make Government services accessible to the common man in his locality and ensure efficiency, transparency & reliability of such services at affordable costs; in addition to this, GoI endeavours to provide services to all other stakeholders like public agencies and their employees and business communities.
- 17. Example of aFLOSS Policy South Africa 22 February 2007 the SA Cabinet approved the Policy on Free and Open Source Software use for South African Government 5 Key points and are as follows:
- 18. South African GovernmentPolicy on Free and Open Source Software - 1 1) The South African Government will implement FLOSS unless proprietary software is demonstrated to be significantly superior. Whenever the advantages of FLOSS and proprietary software are comparable FLOSS will be implemented when choosing a software solution for a new project. Whenever FLOSS is not implemented, then reasons must be provided in order to justify the implementation of proprietary software.
- 19. South African GovernmentPolicy on Free and Open Source Software - 2 2) The South African Government will migrate current proprietary software to FLOSS whenever comparable software exists.
- 20. South African GovernmentPolicy on Free and Open Source Software - 3 3) All new software developed for or by the South African Government will be based on open standards, adherent to FLOSS principles, and licensed using a FLOSS license where possible.
- 21. South African GovernmentPolicy on Free and Open Source Software - 4 4) The South African Government will ensure all Government content and content developed using Government resources is made Open Content, unless analysis on specific content shows that proprietary licensing or confidentiality is substantially beneficial.
- 22. South African GovernmentPolicy on Free and Open Source Software - 5 5) The South African Government will encourage the use of Open Content and Open Standards within South Africa.
- 23. LESSON 1: GovernmentsFLOSS policy need accountability Internal auditing mechanisms External pressure and communication groups
- 24. Governments FLOSS policyneed accountability Internal auditing mechanisms Brazil – Auditor General
- 25. Governments FLOSS policyneed accountability External pressure and communication groups
- 26. Governments FLOSS policyneed to be accountable External groups Canada (Nov 2010) L'APELL - tender number 999103730 "MIGRATION OF WORKSTATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE CSPQ OF MSG AND SERVICES QUÉBEC". APELL questioned the legality of the tender awards as de facto market to multinational proprietary software, without competition, without comparison with the solutions in free software
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- 28. Open Standards –News just in... “...political parties in the Portuguese parliament want to make the use of open standards mandatory for public administrations.” Source: www.OSOR.eu
- 29. Promote Open Standards Interoperabilityto enable the exchange of data and harmonisation of business transactions across government. Open Standards covers common methods, data formats, concepts, terms and document styles for the communication, storage, processing and presentation of data.
- 30. Open Standards There are various open standards integrating ● Systems ● Hardware ● Protocols ● File formats ● Programming languages
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- 32. Procurement Why is procurementprocesses important?
- 33. Companies want todo business with government and visa-versa CNLL** says that France's public administrations spend an amount equal to one-tenth of the country's GDP on public procurement. . Source: OSOR.eu **National Council of Free Software (CNLL), a group representing French providers of free and open source software services
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- 36. Source: James Dixon:Pentaho
- 37. Source: James Dixon:Pentaho
- 38. Procurement FRANCE: Research by OpenForumEurope, at least 20 percent of all IT tenders are breaking the procurement rules by requesting a single solution or technology. Source: OSOR.eu
- 39. Way forward Governments: Create FLOSSPolicies making and make provision for Open Standards and fair Procurement. Possibly start with the education systems. Implement internal accountability structures.
- 40. Way forward I want YOU to... support pressure and communication groups; be vocal; ask questions … AND...
- 41. Way forward I want YOU to... Support the GOV- OSS-RC at www.gossrc.org and at LinkedIn
- 42. Contact information: Nico Elema: (nico@elema.co.za) LinkedIn: nicoelema GOV-OSS-RC: www.gossrc.org