Computers and Society Examine the extent to which Richard Stallman’s GNU manifesto has succeeded in challenging the dominance of conventionally distributed software. Seminar presented by Thomas de Lazzari – Napier University

Overview History and definition From Utopia to Recognition Why this challenge ? Conclusion

Richard M. Stallman Early developer of Unix for MIT Founded Free Software Foundation in 1985 “Dedicated to promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs.” Free Software ≠ Free Beer Think of it as Free Speech

Free Software Foundation General Public License - GPL in 1991  The community rather than the company  Copyleft  No limits on software released under this license Opposite of proprietary software The meaning of “free” software

Open Source vs. Free Software Development Technique Better Software Allows software to ‘evolve’ Sun, Apple, Netscape, … Political Philosophy Ethical Rights Allows unconditional ‘sharing’ and collaboration Only GNU/FSF meet standards Richard M. Stallman (FSF)Eric Raymond (OSI)

The cathedral and The bazaar First worldwide claim of the importance of free software development Consequences  Netscape decides to release Mozilla  The Halloween documents written at Microsoft Huge media cover!

GNU/Linux GNU manifesto written in GNU Project : develop Unix-like operating system that is free software. Each year : massive growth of users : 200 to 300% and in tight competition with Windows NT on the server market. GNU Tools + Linux = GNU/Linux

Oracle vs MySQL OSS database that is very fast 22% of the database market 0.02% of worldwide revenue for databases ($5 million should double in 2003) Users: Yahoo!, Google, SAP & OSU Different license: OSS but commercial orgs must pay $395 per server Similar Oracle install is $20,000

[Commercial] Open Source projects Mozilla / Netscape: web browser OpenOffice / StarOffice : MS Office clone NetBeans / Forte for Java : Java IDE Darwin / MacOs X : operating system

Some other OSS Examples Many other “free software” are now essentials on the internet market. Here are the main examples : Apache : daemon http, 60% of the web servers far away from IIS. Sendmail : mail server solution, almost the only one used. Named : name server, leader on the market. Name resolution are essential for internet. gcc/g++/gdb : compilers for a lot of software.

Microsoft the Great Satan ? Microsoft active hostility towards free software :  making software proprietary.proprietary  various methods : designing secret protocols and file formats, and patenting algorithms and software features - “Halloween documents” Not alone : software industry based on dividing users and taking away their freedom.dividing users and taking away their freedom The only real significance of the “Halloween documents” is that Microsoft seems to think that the GNU/Linux system has the potential for great success.GNU/Linux system

Why does the OSS model work? Too many resources to fail So many eyeballs looking at the code Runs on inexpensive hardware Reliability Costless For a company, licenses costs are huge. For example Windows 2000 and Office 2000 cost approximatively 350£ for a professional. And nothing compared to other specific software.

Final Thoughts “When it comes to defending the freedom of others, to lie down and do nothing is an act of weakness, not humility.”, RMS The GNU manifesto from Richard Stallman has revealed the necessity of free software. First step to prevent a total dominance of conventionally distributed software.

References Eric Raymond : “Open Source Initiative” Richard Stallman : “Free Software Foundation” Richard Stallman's Personal Home Page