Re: [SLUG] Federal Gov Open Source Policy
Also the problem is that Open source needs to jump through the same hoops proprietary software. That is a majority of the time they would need to be DSD approved and each open source project would need to pay a minimum of $50k to get DSD to qualify it. Without DSD approval open source will not get a look in when it comes to networks that are rated Protected and higher. imho, I would have thought that Open Standards are for more critical for a government to require the use and enforcement of.. But even this would be a great win for open source in general as this would also force big companies to support properly open standards in their own products, which then also increases the viability of open source products that also support the standard in the future when migrations are considered. But as far as active participation in open source is concerned, it would be great if any software commissioned by the government was then released as open source. This may be problematic though, as the government would (presumably) never actually write the software itself, but would outsource it's development. Companies that do write the software would then have an active interest in some kind of maintenance or ongoing support program with the government, and would probably see releasing the code to the public as an active threat to that interest. Still, the government could insist (as a large enough customer), and that would be beneficial too That said, obviously there are OS business models that work based upon the ongoing technical support requirements of organisations that do adopt the software, so working with a vendor that does this necessarily means that any bugs or features that the government finds or requires would be given back to the community as well. Anyway, at least it something, and in general I think that Kate Lundy has her head screwed on and is pushing in the right direction On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 4:50 PM, Kevin Saenz kevsa...@spinaweb.com.auwrote: It's been a while since I have responded to slug emails. You need to put this in to perspective. There are a number departments that actually use open source, to some extent. You must bear in mind that there are others who have a strictly microsoft. I know of one department 6 years ago required the skills of Linux and Unix people to convert the department from opensource to microsoft only environment, because said department employed a microsoft ranger, and to this date he is still their CIO. What you have to be aware to be successful with tenders or projects you need to sit on a board of vendors to even be considered for a job or contract for a scope of work. the Federal government is a large market and you have fight your case on a departmental and divisional level. there are other departments who employed the same web technology as President Obama. Yes Open source has a place in Public sector IT but sadly it's not in business critical areas of the sector, and it has been visible for a long time. The policy includes three principles as well as some draft text for government departments and agencies to include in future RFT documentation: * Principle 1: Australian Government ICT procurement processes must actively and fairly consider all types of available software. * Principle 2: Suppliers must consider all types of available software when dealing with Australian Government agencies. * Principle 3: Australian Government agencies will actively participate in open source software communities and contribute back where appropriate. http://www.katelundy.com.au/2011/02/03/welcome-news-for-open-source/comment-page-1/ Policy available in HTML at http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/guide-to-open-source-software/index.html Marghanita -- Marghanita da Cruz http://ramin.com.au Tel: 0414-869202 -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] REMINDER: SLUG Monthly Meeting: 4th February 2011 - Lightning Talks!
They are held at the Google offices opposite Star City casino in the Accenture building. The address is level 5, 48 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont. Tim On Feb 4, 2011 10:10 AM, Kevin Waterson ke...@phpro.org wrote: Where are SLUG meetings held these days? K On Tue, 2011-02-01 at 11:20 +1100, Tim Ansell wrote: Just a reminder that SLUG is going ahead this Friday. There where a lot of awesome stuff at Linux.conf.au, if you went please give a lightning talk! Tim On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 6:06 PM, Tim Ansell mit...@mithis.com wrote: PLEASE NOTE: Due to a conflict with Linux.conf.au, the January SLUG meeting will be held a week later on **4th February 2010**. The following SLUG meeting will return to the last Friday of the month schedule, the date being the 25th of February. Location Google Sydney - 48 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont Summary * Date: Friday, 4th February 2011 * Start time: Arrive at 6pm for a 6:30pm start * Format: Lightning talks - Theme; what I did at LCA. * == RSVP at [[http://slug.eventbrite.com]] == * Suggest or sign up for a talk on the wiki[1] Details This month we will only be having lightning talks[2]. We're looking for as many talks of a 5-7 minute duration as possible. If you are interested in talking, please sign up on the wiki[1]. [1] http://wiki.slug.org.au/january2011lightningtalks [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Talk Giving a lighting talk is a great way to show of the cool things you are doing! You don't have to create slides or even be well prepared, just come along and talks. Don't think you can give a talk, but have an idea for a talk you'd like to see? Add it to the **Talks I'd like to see** on the wiki page [1] === Afterwards === We'll be aiming to finish by 8 and will be heading to the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel afterwards. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] REMINDER: SLUG Monthly Meeting: 4th February 2011 - Lightning Talks!
Where are SLUG meetings held these days? K On Tue, 2011-02-01 at 11:20 +1100, Tim Ansell wrote: Just a reminder that SLUG is going ahead this Friday. There where a lot of awesome stuff at Linux.conf.au, if you went please give a lightning talk! Tim On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 6:06 PM, Tim Ansell mit...@mithis.com wrote: PLEASE NOTE: Due to a conflict with Linux.conf.au, the January SLUG meeting will be held a week later on **4th February 2010**. The following SLUG meeting will return to the last Friday of the month schedule, the date being the 25th of February. Location Google Sydney - 48 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont Summary * Date: Friday, 4th February 2011 * Start time: Arrive at 6pm for a 6:30pm start * Format: Lightning talks - Theme; what I did at LCA. * == RSVP at [[http://slug.eventbrite.com]] == * Suggest or sign up for a talk on the wiki[1] Details This month we will only be having lightning talks[2]. We're looking for as many talks of a 5-7 minute duration as possible. If you are interested in talking, please sign up on the wiki[1]. [1] http://wiki.slug.org.au/january2011lightningtalks [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Talk Giving a lighting talk is a great way to show of the cool things you are doing! You don't have to create slides or even be well prepared, just come along and talks. Don't think you can give a talk, but have an idea for a talk you'd like to see? Add it to the **Talks I'd like to see** on the wiki page [1] === Afterwards === We'll be aiming to finish by 8 and will be heading to the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel afterwards. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Federal Gov Open Source Policy
Hi All, Following up on the postings here and Friday night's brief discussion at SLUG, I have now created a page on the SLUG wiki under advocacy. See http://wiki.slug.org.au/advocacy Marghanita Kevin Saenz wrote: Also the problem is that Open source needs to jump through the same hoops proprietary software. That is a majority of the time they would need to be DSD approved and each open source project would need to pay a minimum of $50k to get DSD to qualify it. Without DSD approval open source will not get a look in when it comes to networks that are rated Protected and higher. imho, I would have thought that Open Standards are for more critical for a government to require the use and enforcement of.. But even this would be a great win for open source in general as this would also force big companies to support properly open standards in their own products, which then also increases the viability of open source products that also support the standard in the future when migrations are considered. But as far as active participation in open source is concerned, it would be great if any software commissioned by the government was then released as open source. This may be problematic though, as the government would (presumably) never actually write the software itself, but would outsource it's development. Companies that do write the software would then have an active interest in some kind of maintenance or ongoing support program with the government, and would probably see releasing the code to the public as an active threat to that interest. Still, the government could insist (as a large enough customer), and that would be beneficial too That said, obviously there are OS business models that work based upon the ongoing technical support requirements of organisations that do adopt the software, so working with a vendor that does this necessarily means that any bugs or features that the government finds or requires would be given back to the community as well. Anyway, at least it something, and in general I think that Kate Lundy has her head screwed on and is pushing in the right direction On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 4:50 PM, Kevin Saenz kevsa...@spinaweb.com.auwrote: It's been a while since I have responded to slug emails. You need to put this in to perspective. There are a number departments that actually use open source, to some extent. You must bear in mind that there are others who have a strictly microsoft. I know of one department 6 years ago required the skills of Linux and Unix people to convert the department from opensource to microsoft only environment, because said department employed a microsoft ranger, and to this date he is still their CIO. What you have to be aware to be successful with tenders or projects you need to sit on a board of vendors to even be considered for a job or contract for a scope of work. the Federal government is a large market and you have fight your case on a departmental and divisional level. there are other departments who employed the same web technology as President Obama. Yes Open source has a place in Public sector IT but sadly it's not in business critical areas of the sector, and it has been visible for a long time. The policy includes three principles as well as some draft text for government departments and agencies to include in future RFT documentation: * Principle 1: Australian Government ICT procurement processes must actively and fairly consider all types of available software. * Principle 2: Suppliers must consider all types of available software when dealing with Australian Government agencies. * Principle 3: Australian Government agencies will actively participate in open source software communities and contribute back where appropriate. http://www.katelundy.com.au/2011/02/03/welcome-news-for-open-source/comment-page-1/ Policy available in HTML at http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/guide-to-open-source-software/index.html Marghanita -- Marghanita da Cruz http://ramin.com.au Tel: 0414-869202 -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- Marghanita da Cruz http://ramin.com.au Tel: 0414-869202 -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
