Hi
Here is what I have so far. Targeted at home more than business. Some
gaps. A lot of notes and a structure (that can be chopped up into
several articles). Also - am staying well away from 'technical' and
'features' where I can. A focus on the human element.
Feedback, ideas (and especially encouragement) are welcome.
Can post as a OOO document if preferred. Also this is likely to be a
big message so happy to continue offline if interested
reviewers/contributors make themselves known.
Regards
Graeme Kiyoto-Ward
Article starts below this line
_____________________________________________
*Needs some Legal Stuff*
/Release under a suitable open licence? /
*What is Open Source?*
*Introduction*
This is a look at Open Source software for ordinary people. If you
have never heard of Open Source software or if you don't believe that
software can be free and useful, then this article is for you. This
is not a technical article, it is not going to sell you anything and
most importantly, it is not going to tell you what to do. What you
will learn is what open source software is and why top quality
software can be free. This article will also point out some open
source software you can run on windows for your kids, your home or
your office.
*What is Open Source Software*
The computer programme that you install onto your PC (or Mac for that
matter) are made by people. To make this software, the people who
create the programme produce a script (called *Source Code* ) that is
read by a complex computer programme (called a *Compiler* ) which
turns this script into a file that your computer can run ( *Binary
File* ). In the windows world, the binary file may be called an
executable file. What is important here is that if you have the
source code, a compiler (there are free compilers out there), and the
skills then you can modify and create your own binary file.
Open Source software is software where the person or group that
creates the programme also release the Source Code to the public.
This effectively makes the building blocks of the programme available
for anyone to modify and create the final programme themselves. This
is significantly different from other free software such as Freeware
where only the Binary File may be released. Obviously this is also
significantly different from many commercial programmes which are
only available as binary files.
The best metaphor for Open Source involves going to a restaurant for
a meal. Commercial software is like buying a meal that is made in the
kitchen out of sight. The meal could taste great but you couldn't
make it yourself and you can only tell what they put into it from the
way it looks on the plate. Open Source would be like going into the
restaurant and getting the recipe with the meal. You know what you
are getting, you could make the meal yourself and even if you could
decide to change the recipe to suit your tastes (let's say you don't
like the zucchinis). In fact open source is better than this, in many
cases you could go to the restaurant and just get the recipe.
*Examples of Open Source Software*
The best known examples of Open Source software are Linux ( a free
alternative to the likes of Windows), OpenOffice (a free alternative
to the likes of Office), and Firefox (a free alternative to the likes
of Internet Explorer). There is significantly more Open Source
software than this. Debian Linux currently has around 18,000 binary
files call packages available for it.
*Here to Stay*
All that is required to write software is a computer, a compiler,
some skill, some time and the inclination to write the software
itself. Many households have a computer, compilers (as I have
mentioned above) are available for free, and there are many people
with the skills, time and inclination. In fact many people find
writing software enjoyable and the feeling when they solve a
particularly difficult problem or produce a particularly clever
programme can be very rewarding.
Another element that makes Open Source work is the Internet which
allows people who enjoy writing software to collaborate. Releasing
the Source Code adds to the sense of accomplishment for these people.
Their peers can see the results, other people who may have more
knowledge than themselves can build on what they have written, or
they simply may like to share their achievement.
Given that for some writing Open Source software is cheap, enjoyable
and rewarding, as long as it is legal to write software, Open Source
is here to stay.
*Benefits*
To you as an individual
To society
*Challenges*
What is freedom? /I.e. arguments between different Open Source licenses/
Myths
Patents –/ nice way to mention Patent Armageddon (which sounds cool
and interesting if nothing else)/
Awareness and Marketing –/ limited budgets/
Don't go into business doing what others do for fun. /Can this
comment go somewhere?/
*Why use Open Source?*
*Myths*
No Support (implies less reliable)
Difficult to Use
No or few applications
Hidden Costs – /define?/
/Any other myths?/
*Why Use?*
/How to write without sounding evangelical?/
Free
Reliable
Secure
Low Hardware Requirements
What else – need feedback for this bit...
*Why not Use?*
There are a number of very good reasons not to consider using Open
Source software, in particular, not to use an Open Source operating
system like Linux. The first an major reason is if you use your
computer as a gaming console. There are some Open Source games out
there and a small number of companies ensure they produce a version
of their game that works on Linux (e.g. Id Software). For the most
part games are produced for Windows and much of the effort in
producing games goes into areas that Open Source developers
traditionally struggle with. Many commercial games consist of voice
acting, music, lavish graphics running on a software engine that ties
these together. The Open Source community does not have any problems
producing the software engines for games, it is the voice acting,
music, lavish graphics that they cannot compete with.
The second major reason not to consider Open Source is if you have
already purchased software and are either happy with it or rely on
it. In this case you are better off with what you currently have.
Many people use and like Windows or commercial Office software. Many
small businesses have all their accounts in a commercially purchased
accounting software. This reason also covers those people that like
to use commercial software – there are also many people who will
drink water from a bottle but not from the tap.
Using Open Source software is an individual choice. It is there to
use if you want to but only if you want to.
*Software for...*
/Notes this bit is to run through and review some key packages. Focus
on packages with working Windows ports to keep the article useful to
the vast majority. Not looking to trawling through this lot./
*Kids & Education *
*
Stellarium
*
Celestia
*
Tuxpaint
*
Childsplay
*
Edubuntu with Gcompris & KDE Educational Packages (the
motherload of educational software)
*Internet & Home*
*
Firefox
*
Thunderbird
*
/What else??/
*Business *
*
OpenOffice
*
Scribus
*
/What else??/
*Multimedia*
*
Gimp
*
Audacity
*
MediaCoder/...video editing software – alternatives - everything
else in the article has a Linux Port./
*
Blender
*
Linux as a home theater system. Running DVDs on Linux.
*Choosing* * Open Source Operating Systems*
*Introduction to Culture*
/May need to modify this bit. Written because I think this is the
reason people stick to a distribution through thick and thin. Also, a
comparison of features only lasts until the next release./
/Another note to self about structure- how the hell did I jump from
applications to distributions?/
When we make the choices about what we buy and use, open we pick
things based on what we value and identify with the product.
Marketing people know this and take full advantage of it. Choosing
and Open Source operating system is no different – except there are
often no marketing budgets involved. There are any number of articles
out there on the Internet that compare and assess the features of
each system but in the end, most free Operating Systems have
significantly more in common than differences. Much effort and energy
is spent trying to explain why this or that system has the best
features. This article will look at some of the core values that some
key Open Source operating system have. This may be a better place to
look to see what you value. Chances are for many people, they stick
with what first works the best for them - like I do – and will change
if their system no longer fulfills the original promise.
To give an example, my brother favours Debian Linux, because it is
completely non-commercial and completely free (as in speech). On the
other hand, I favour Ubuntu because of the ease of use and BSD
because of the excellent documentation. There is nothing in either of
our choices that is based on functionality, rather we have based our
preference on what each system holds as its key values.
If you want to compare or assess the feature of different open source
operating systems, there are a couple of sites that you may find
useful. The first of these is distrowatch ( www.distrowatch.org
<http://www.distrowatch.org/> ). On this site, each Operating System
has it's own page that contains links to reviews done by other sites.
Next there is PolishLinux ( www.polishlinux.org
<http://www.polishlinux.org/> ). This site allows you to compare the
features of different versions of operating systems side by side.
/A Values look at Open Source Software/
This section looks at what various systems focus on so that you can
better understand why these systems make the decision that they do.
For example, if can be confusing why Debian does not include the Open
Source Firefox web browser or why Ubuntu does not come with video
drivers for some graphics cards by default. Generally for any
distribution there is one (or maybe two) overriding concerns that
affect all the decision that the group maintaining the distribution
make.
* Freedom *
The makers of some systems have the goal of making sure that all the
components are completely free as a top priority. This has a number
of interesting consequences. Firstly it can make the system more
stable is it relies entirely on open source drivers to run the
hardware. In addition, this can make it difficult to install non-free
software – most notably software that allows you to use the 3D
graphics cards or play encrypted DVDs. This can even extend to open
Source applications for example, Debian does not come with Firefox
(an Open Source web browser) because the Firefox logo is trademarked.
Ease of use is secondary and only included where this does not
conflict with the primary goal of freedom. The best examples of
distributions focusing on freedom are Debian (championing the GPL
license) and OpenBSD (championing the BSD license). OpenBSD refuses
to let non Open software interact with core parts of the system which
can reduce functionality of some hardware – most notably Nvidia or
ATI graphics cards. Ubuntu has a freedom focus as well as a
functionality focus.
* Functionality *
Functionality covers those varieties of system that try to make
things easy for the user. These systems are normally built with
graphical tools so that you can use the menus and control panels to
configure the system. Most of the distributions of Linux aimed at
functionality are aimed at desktop users and in particular new users.
For someone attempting to try Linux for the first time, picking a
distribution that has functionality as its primary concern is highly
recommended.
These distributions all have the goal of trying to make the
installation of additional software as simple and painless as
possible. Many of the distributions that focus on functionality come
bundled with non-free components – typically 3d drivers for graphics
cards or the software to play encypted DVDs. Examples of
distributions that focus on functionality are Linux Mint and
PCLinuxOS. Ubuntu has a foot in the functionality camp but maintains
a freedom focus by making non-free components easy to install but not
part of the basic install.
*Control*
A distribution that focuses on control is attempting to ensure that
the user decides what software gets installed. Some of the more
popular (and functionality focused) distributions bundle a large
number of features and applications. People who prefer control over
their systems refer to this as bloat and argue that more unnecessary
applications makes the system less stable, less secure and run more
slowly. Those distributions that focus on control are generally aimed
at power users. The basic system can be set up with very little in
the way of applications allowing the user to add only what they want.
It is up to the user to set up the applications that they need. Of
all the systems those focusing on control generally have the steepest
learning curve for new users. Examples of systems that have a focus
on control are Gentoo and Slackware. The main versions of BSD
(FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD) are similar in that the base system is
minimalist and the user needs to add the applications that they require.
*Security*
Many mainstream distributions have a strong awareness of security.
There is usually some form of security focused mailing list for the
distribution and updated versions of applications that are found to
have security holes are usually made available very quickly. Of all
the distributions there is only one that has security as the
overriding concern where security takes precedence over all other
considerations. This is OpenBSD. This operating system is not
recommended for new users however.
*Stability*
Like security, stability is usually a strong focus but not the
primary focus of a distribution. Stability normally depends on how
conservative the distribution is. Generally Debian (stable),
Slackware and the BSD systems are known for stability. For someone
coming from Windows, and wanting to use Linux on the desktop, there
probably isn't a significant different in the levels of stability
between different distributions.
* Commercial Distributions *
There are a number of distributions that are supported by commercial
interests. Fedora is supported by the Red Hat Corporation, SUSE by
Novell and Mandriva is developed and maintained by a company in
France. These distributions are often somewhat suitable for new users
though they may not be quite as easy to use as some of the more
functionality focused distributions. Often the key benefit that these
provide is indemnity against software patent lawsuits – for those
countries that enforce software patents. This can be a a draw-card
for large enterprise customers.
*Specialized Distributions*
There are a number of smaller, less mainstream distributions aimed at
performing specialized tasks such as educational use, computer
forensics, firewalls or clusters computing. If you want to find a
specialized distribution I suggest that you use the excellent search
page at Distrowatch.
