Advantages and Disadvantages of FOSS
Uploaded by
Geshan ManandharAdvantages and Disadvantages of FOSS
Uploaded by
Geshan ManandharFree & Open Source Software
(FOSS)
FOSS Advantages & Disadvantages
Its applicability in developing Nations like Nepal.
By: Geshan Manandhar “03-00097-2”
BIM 8th Semester
Computer Security and Cyber Law
Really, I'm not out to destroy Microsoft. That will
just be a completely unintentional side effect:
Linus Travolds, New York Times, 2003-09-28.
Free & Open Source Software
●
There are two terms to separate “free” and
“open source” in FOSS.
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Free as in freedom of speech not as in free
beer.
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Open mainly points to Open Source Code of the
program, available for others.
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So free and open source software is in some
ways free but the source code is available for
analysis.
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Free Software
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“Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price.
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Freedom to
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Run (freedom 0)
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Study how program works (freedom 1)
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Redistribute copies (freedom 2)
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Modify / improvise (freedom 3)
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So you may get the software at no cost but as per
the license you can run, copy, distribute, study,
change and improve the software.
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Open Source Software
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Source code is open (available for user)
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You can modify source code depending upon
license: not totally free
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Source code is not free in the sense of users
being able to modify it and redistribute it
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There are 10 points to qualify as open source
software, some are:
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Free Redistribution
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Availability of source code
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Possibility of derived works etc
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Popular FOSS Projects
S e r v e r-
O p e r a t in g W in d o w in g D esk to p W eb P r o d u c tiv it y O ffic e
L anguages type
S y stem s S y ste m s E n v ir o n m e n t s B r o w se r s A p p li c a t i o n s S u it e s
s o ft w a r e
L in u x (o r GNU S am ba
G N U / L i n u x ) C /C + + GNOM E
The X A B IW o rd
O pen A pache
W in d o w
F re e B S D P e rl KDE O ffic e
S y ste m M o z illa G N U Im a g e
O penB S D PhP
M a n i p u l a ti o n
N etB S D P yth o n G N U S tep K O ffic e Zope
X F re e 8 6 P ro g ra m
X Fce M ySQ L
G N U /H u rd T cl P o stg re S Q L
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Popularity of Apache Web Server
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Advantages of FOSS
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The availability of the source code and the right
to modify
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The right to use the software in any way
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Core software is free
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Evolving software
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Encourages hands on
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Advantages of FOSS 2
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Not tied to a single vendor
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Big community to support
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Easy Localization
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Better Security
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Reliability & Stability
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Disadvantages of FOSS
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No maintenance and support (unless purchased
separately)
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No warranties regarding media, viruses, and
performance
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Staff must be open source savvy
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License terms are NOT standard/ Problems
connected to intellectual property
●
Hard to implement
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FOSS & Developing Nation Like
Ours
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Cost Factor($200 for 1 copy of MS windows XP)
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Legal issues with software
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Security, reliability and stability
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Collaborative problem solving
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Vendor Independence/ open standards
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Localization
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Employment
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Who's Doing it
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FOSS Nepal Community, www.fossnepal.org.np
Madan Pursakar Pustakalay (MPP)
BellaSAP
IOE – LTSP initiative
OLCP Nepal
Etc...
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Happy Software Freedom Day.
