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OPEN YOUR WINDOWS

Reflections on the Use of Free and Open Source Software for Developing Nations

Prof. Dr. Victor van Reijswoud Chairman EACOSS

Uganda Martyrs University victor@eacoss.org / victor@umu.ac.ug

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SRoad map

The role of OSS for Development

Examples of OSS in Uganda

Lessons and Way Forward

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SGet the terms right

Open Source Software (OSS)

software from which the source code, that means, the work of the programmer can be seen and when someone wants, modify it

Free software

software that can be distributed and shared freely among friends and use throughout the organization

Proprietary software

Software developed and owned by companies and being sold or licensed to users at a fee

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SThe starting premises

“A regime built around free diffusion of tools has an interesting characteristic: the degree to which a software tool can be utilized and expanded becomes limited only by the knowledge, learning, and innovative energy of the potential users, not by exclusionary property rights, prices, or the power of countries or corporations.” (Steven Weber, 2003)

With Open Source Software tools users in the developing world can become creators in stead of consumers and can lead the poor to development

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SAdvantages and benefits

Reduced costs and less dependency on imported technology and skills

Affordable software for individuals, enterprise and government

Universal access through mass software roll-out without costly licensing implications

Access to data without barrier of proprietary software and data formats

Ability to customize software to local languages and cultures

Lowered barriers to entry for software businesses

Participation in global network of software development

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SDisadvantages and drawback

Available support for OSS

not well organized

Finding the appropriate software

no advertising of software

Documentation

idiosyncratic and sometimes nonexistent

Limited best practices

Hardware – software fit

OSS often lags behind concerning new hardware

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SOSS and Development

Open Source Software has high development potential

lower costs

independence

increased capacity development

stability and security

Strong push from development organizations

India, China, and Brazil lead the OSS revolution through their success

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SLicense fees and GDP per capita

country GDP/cap PC's ('000) effective GDP months

Finland

USA

23,295

35,277

2,197

178,326

848

560

0.29

0.19

Source: Gosh 2003

Traditional models for Cost of Ownerships need to be revisited in the context of the developing world

XP/Office license

Uganda 249 71 18,010 6.13

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SConditions for success (SIDA)

- Intellectual property law framework and enforcement

- Low-cost, widely available Internet access

- Educational infrastructure

- Freedom of information

- English-skilled developers

- Skilled and trainable developer pool

Weakness in one or more of these areas are not a justification for the adoption of proprietary software but for improving on the weakness

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SWhat is happening on the ground?

Aggressive marketing from large software vendors

Through development organizations/money Africa has become an emerging market

OSS corporations fail to connect

OSS examples in Africa are few and small size

OSS misses championing projects and people

Governments do not like the concept

Lack of awareness

Lack of prestige

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SCase study – Uganda Martyrs University

Private Catholic University

80km from Capital city – Kampala

2500 students - 7 faculties

Leader in the ICT innovation in the country

ICT infrastructure main campus

4 computer labs

250 desktop

100 connected laptops

wireless internet connection and WiFi in the making

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SCase Study – Uganda Martyrs University

OSS was introduced when setting up the mail system – neomail

Servers were gradually migrated (secretly)

June 2003 – senate decides to bring OSS to the desktops (OSS policy version 0.1)

Linux (SusE), Open Office, Mozilla....

migration team changed the student computers

new computers get OSS automatically

Migrated about 60% desktop, 90% servers

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SExperiences – Migration UMU

Selection of software alternatives

Knoppix, SuSE

Technical difficulties

hardware and software

Resistance

students and staff

Success/Failure?

University project has attracted a lot of attention and new projects

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SCase study – St Mary's Secondary School

Government (public) secondary school

Day and boarding facilities

'O' and 'A' level

450 students and 34 teaching staff

No computers facilities

Fees €100 boarding - €40 day per term

No expertise in the computing area

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SCase study – St. Mary's Secondary School

Computer facilities are important for the status of the school

Collaboration between ChangeIT and UMU

Lab with 35 computers

Running Kubuntu

Internet access (dish)

Remote maintenance

Internet cafe for income

Full implementation in August 2005

Through standardization a model project for other schools

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SSt. Mary's Pride

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SEACOSS

East African Center for Open Source Software

Started September 2004 to share the knowledge gained from the UMU migration

Goal to promote the use of Free and Open Source Software (OSS) by all organizations

Services:training

certification

advocacy

consultancy

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SIs Africa Ready for OSS?

- Education and skills development needs strengthening

- English language training needs to be encouraged

- Intellectual property needs to be enforced

- The price of Internet access needs to be regulated and investment in infrastructure are needed

- OSS message needs to be promoted in among young developers

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SThe Way Forward

Theoretical potential is evident

To get reality:

Appropriate support for developing countries

Closer collaboration with between other OSS groups (active knowledge exchange)

More lecturing material (start from the basis) and certification programs

Success stories needed (especially in the Development Agencies)

Acceptance of the OSS standards in the rest of the world (or opening up proprietary standards)

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