If you love software, set it free…
NGOs, CBOs, small business owners and even government are increasingly making use of Free Libre and Open Source Software.
If you still think that FLOSS is just something you do after you have brushed your teeth, you have not yet joined the ranks of those realising the benefits and potencial of Free Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS).
“Free” means the software gives you “freedom”, but it is not necessarily always cost free. With FLOSS you can view the source code of a program and if you have the technical know-how, you can alter that code to enhance the program. With proprietary software the code is hidden. You are also allowed to copy and share Free and Open Source Software and do not need a registration code, as is the case with proprietary software.
The Free Software Movement, consisting of people who believed that if you love software you should set it free, started in the early 1980’s. It culminated in the Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985 by Richard Stallman. They are “dedicated to promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify and redistribute computer programs”.
Groups working on a tight budget such as non-governmental organisations, community based organisations and small businesses are increasingly making use of this type of software. Even government has realised the potencial of FLOSS, announcing in 2007 that they would migrate to Free and Open Source Software. However, they have not fully implemented the use of FLOSS yet.
Free and Open Source Software can also be used for education in resource-poor schools and by entrepreneurs trying to make a living. 
Members of the Development Works team attended Joomla training conducted by the organisation FLOSSnet last week. Joomla is Free and Open Source Software used to design and manage websites.
Filed under: CBOs, development, DEVELOPMENT WORKS, education, Entrepreneurs, governance, internet, media, NGOs, Small Business, Software, technology, Training | 1 Comment
Tags: CBO, Community Based Organisations, DEVELOPMENT WORKS, education, Entrepreneur, FLOSS, FLOSSnet, Free, Free Libre and Open Source Software, Free Software Foundation, Free Software Movement, freedom, Government, Joomla, Libre, NGO, Non-governmental organisations, Open Source, Open Source Software, OSS, proprietary software, Small Business, Software, source code, Websites
Thanks for this blog post, I am a developer, but have always found it very hard to join any OSS project. I like the idea of working other people from around the word, but most of this projects do not cater for beginners looking to join them.
I will investigate the Sourceforge site for more though.
Thanks again.