Hobart John
John's
Open Source Software (OSS) page
Open Source Software (OSS) is now becoming a force in the world of computer software. It has been around for a couple of decades or so. OSS seems to have gained popularity since the coming of GNU/Linux.
I hope to give people some simple easy to understand details about OSS. The usual software that people now use is now termed Proprietary Software (PS) which is what most people use whether it is the Operating System (OS), applications and utilities. The masses have been brainwashed into thinking that PS is the only reliable software but it is not. PS is written by people who are under the control of businesses through contracts and so on. That is fair enough. The software is usually kept in a “secret/private” form whereas OSS is written by writers who allow other writers to modify/alter the code which is in “non secret” form, it is “open” to anyone. There are special rules that govern the OSS world which I shall not go into here. OSS is usually free, no cost, but if supplied with some form of instruction or operating manual in any form, CD, paper such as in a boxed form then there may be a charge or cost. A bit like a loaf of bread being free but the wrapping is charged for so the end result is some money is exchanged.
One of the main advantages of OSS is that one does not generally have to register it or pay for it. One can copy it and give it to someone else to use. No one need pay or register it. It does not belong to any one person or company. We all know the companies that I am eluding to here. Big companies that get richer while the humble person becomes poorer. OSS is now spreading all over the world, in particular third world countries who can't afford the cost of PS especially with the cost of updates and upgrades.
The Open Source Initiative is a good place to read about OSS. Of course there are other types of software, Shareware, Freeware, Public Domain, Liteware and others which is certainly in many cases very good software but OSS is the only real Open Source Software. Big companies now involved with OSS are; IBM, Intel, Sun, SAP, HP, Silicon Graphics. As I said before Governments and Institutions around the world are now either looking at using OSS or are already using it. Our Australian Government is dragging its feet which understandable with its big business alliance. Some politicians are trying to have their voices heard regarding the use of OSS but in the mean time we taxpayers are being ripped off with the continual use of big business PS ( Proprietary Software ).
OSS software has been used in the Internet system for years, it's what the Internet is developed around, software that was written by some clever people, written for for free, no charge, these people just wanted to make it so the ordinary person could use the Internet. Such software being; TCP/IP, HTML, Apache, Sendmail, Bind, Perl and others. BIND is the software that provides the Domain Name Service (DNS) for the entire Internet. OSS not PS by Adobe, Micro$oft, Novell and others.
So, it's up to us, the ordinary computer user to make people aware of OSS, it's free, it is good, it's excellent.
Some OSS I use.
OpenOffice.org (OOo) is an office suite rivalling Micro$oft Office. I do desktop publishing, spreadsheet, building these Web pages, and Export to PDF with OOo. Its version is now V2.
The GIMP (GNU/Linux Imaging Manipulation Programme) to scan, edit images for my Web site and photos for viewing.
Galeon my main Web browser.
Mozilla my secondary Web browser.
Evolution my E-mail application.
This is my E-mail address which is not clickable for technical reasons!
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