Open Source SoftwareOpen Source Software(OSS)(OSS)

How Open Source Software can How Open Source Software can help our Industry jump to the help our Industry jump to the

cutting edge in 2010cutting edge in 2010

By: Thomas Eric HarrisBy: Thomas Eric Harris

DevelopmentDevelopment

YOU!!What you don’t believe me! Well watch this short

video about Open Source and its founders

ResearchersResearchers

CommercializationCommercialization

Knowledge

•Richard Stallman launches the GNU Project and the Free software Foundation. •The Computer Science Research Group (CSRG) of the University of California at Berkeley was improving the Unix system

Late 70’s-Early 80’s

Persuasion

Richard Stallman and the California Berkeley staff continue to develop separate software in isolation. Other groups are also building OSS applications.These applications start the ball rolling to showing the world that OSS is an effective development strategy.

Late 80’s Early 90’s

Decision

Bill Jolitz develops 386BSD software platform, while Linus Torvalds is finishing the basics of the Linux operating system in Finland. Both of these systems are still in use today. Linux was the more common choice that has been used to develop many OSS titles.

1991-1992

Implementation

The collapse of Netscape (a former OSS supporter) rushed many companies to understand OSS. Large computer companies are trying to promote and develop OSS.

1998

Confirmation

The open source movement has not reached the confirmation stage of the Innovation-Decision Process. The movement is still progressing as new OSS titles are being developed. Mozilla’s Firefox and the course management tool Moodle have been confirmed as viable applications.

1999-

Innovation Innovation April 1998April 1998

Linus Linus TorvaldsTorvalds, Larry Wall, Brian , Larry Wall, Brian Behlendorf, Eric Allman, Guido van Behlendorf, Eric Allman, Guido van Rossum, Michael Tiemann, Rossum, Michael Tiemann, Richard StallmanRichard Stallman, Jamie Zawinski, and Eric , Jamie Zawinski, and Eric Raymond come together at the Open Raymond come together at the Open Source Summit.Source Summit.• They discuss the definition of “Free They discuss the definition of “Free

software” and the open source software” and the open source movement is started.movement is started.

These individuals take Open source in These individuals take Open source in many different directions.many different directions.

Early Adopters: Early 2000’sEarly Adopters: Early 2000’s

Many different companies begin to Many different companies begin to develop open source ideals. develop open source ideals. • These companies release portions of These companies release portions of

their source code while keeping vital their source code while keeping vital portions under wraps.portions under wraps.

The Open Source Initiative is The Open Source Initiative is developed with the early founders. developed with the early founders. Many OSS titles have been Many OSS titles have been developed. developed.

More Titles for Early AdoptersMore Titles for Early Adopters At the beginning of 2010 At the beginning of 2010

many different OSS titles many different OSS titles have been developed in have been developed in many different many different applications. Mozilla’s applications. Mozilla’s Firefox Web browser, the Firefox Web browser, the Linux operating system, Linux operating system, and Mozillas Firefox web and Mozillas Firefox web browser are some of the browser are some of the most famous of these most famous of these early adopter programsearly adopter programs

1998 Open Source Summit discusses the benefits of Open development

Early 2000’s: Many different companies begin to publish a portion of their code

At the beginning of 2010 many different OSS titles have been developed in many different applications.

Innovators of Open source Innovators of Open source MovementMovement

The Open source Initiative (OSI) is The Open source Initiative (OSI) is the primary organization responsible the primary organization responsible for innovation in the Open Source for innovation in the Open Source Movement.Movement.

Other innovators will turn in their Other innovators will turn in their changes and modifications to the OSI changes and modifications to the OSI which will post them in updates to which will post them in updates to the programs.the programs.

Early AdoptersEarly Adopters

Small businesses with a technical interest Small businesses with a technical interest will be the earliest adopters of OSS.will be the earliest adopters of OSS.• They have the technical knowledge to feel They have the technical knowledge to feel

comfortable using an application without tech comfortable using an application without tech support.support.

• They will also be flexible enough to adopt early They will also be flexible enough to adopt early with limited trialibility.with limited trialibility.

IT departments at public K12 districts and IT departments at public K12 districts and smaller universities will also be early smaller universities will also be early adopters of OSS.adopters of OSS.• Small business as well as small school districts Small business as well as small school districts

will be interested in the no cost alternatives will be interested in the no cost alternatives that OSS offers.that OSS offers.

How to catch early adopters in How to catch early adopters in EducationEducation

The OSS movement will sell itself as The OSS movement will sell itself as school districts look at the high cost school districts look at the high cost of software licenses to keep of software licenses to keep computers running. computers running. • By accenting the stability of OSS By accenting the stability of OSS

applications and their limited risk to applications and their limited risk to viral computer attacks school districts viral computer attacks school districts will come to OSS on their own.will come to OSS on their own.

Those darn LaggardsThose darn Laggards

The more experienced educators will The more experienced educators will be the laggards in adopting OSS be the laggards in adopting OSS applications.applications.• We will move laggards along by We will move laggards along by

stopping support of traditional stopping support of traditional applications after a training period.applications after a training period.

How to EASE the transitionHow to EASE the transition

Develop a community of Develop a community of

teachers out of the early teachers out of the early

adopters. adopters. • A community ethic will allow the late A community ethic will allow the late

adopters and laggards to see the benefits adopters and laggards to see the benefits by increasing the compatibility and by increasing the compatibility and observability of the systems. The lead observability of the systems. The lead group will allow the late group to be more group will allow the late group to be more successful in their trial of the applications. successful in their trial of the applications.

Decentralized approach to adoptionDecentralized approach to adoption OSS has been decentraly OSS has been decentraly

diffused from its diffused from its beginningbeginning• The driving concept behind The driving concept behind

Open source software Open source software requires this diffusion requires this diffusion methodmethod

The reinvention of OSS titles The reinvention of OSS titles to be specifically tailored to to be specifically tailored to the user is OSS greatest the user is OSS greatest asset.asset.

Change agents in OSSChange agents in OSS The change agents for OSS in The change agents for OSS in

Effingham County will not have to Effingham County will not have to work hard to show a need for work hard to show a need for change. change. • The current economy is strangling The current economy is strangling

school systems and specifically school systems and specifically technology departments into becoming technology departments into becoming more creative with the use of their more creative with the use of their limited funding. limited funding.

Paying thousands for site licenses of Paying thousands for site licenses of programs will be seen as frivolous when low programs will be seen as frivolous when low or no cost alternatives are presented.or no cost alternatives are presented.

Change Agent: RelationshipsChange Agent: Relationships

These individuals will be current These individuals will be current employees in the schools.employees in the schools.• As such they will have their own As such they will have their own

relationships with their cohorts already relationships with their cohorts already established.established.

This person should be well liked at their This person should be well liked at their location and be looked to as a guide for location and be looked to as a guide for technical applications.technical applications.

Change Agent: Problems?Change Agent: Problems?We don’t have any, do we?We don’t have any, do we?

This individual should actively seek This individual should actively seek out problems and work to actively out problems and work to actively mediate those issues before mediate those issues before frustration is experienced by end frustration is experienced by end users.users.

Create an Intent to changeCreate an Intent to change

The chosen change agents should The chosen change agents should create positive experiences that create positive experiences that develop a desire to use the new develop a desire to use the new applications. applications. • The change agent should look for ways The change agent should look for ways

that OSS applications can be used by that OSS applications can be used by individuals that are not easily noticed.individuals that are not easily noticed.

Move from intent to actionMove from intent to action

Change agents should create positive Change agents should create positive OSS experiences that exhibit best OSS experiences that exhibit best teaching practices. teaching practices. • By doing this followers will feel By doing this followers will feel

comfortable knowing that they can be comfortable knowing that they can be successful at reaching out to their successful at reaching out to their students in a novel way.students in a novel way.

Prevent the Back SlidePrevent the Back Slide

By providing positive feedback on By providing positive feedback on the projects that end users develop the projects that end users develop with OSS the change agent will with OSS the change agent will prevent discontinuance of the prevent discontinuance of the innovation.innovation.• The change agent should always look for The change agent should always look for

positives especially if the end user positives especially if the end user believes the effort has resulted in believes the effort has resulted in failure.failure.

Work yourself out of a jobWork yourself out of a job

The OSS change agent should create The OSS change agent should create positive experiences and work positive experiences and work tirelessly to develop communication tirelessly to develop communication between end users. between end users. • By working in this regard and By working in this regard and

developing communication and developing communication and collaboration the change agent will be collaboration the change agent will be training their own replacements.training their own replacements.

Critical Mass for OSSCritical Mass for OSS

Critical mass has not been reached Critical mass has not been reached for OSS inside of the education for OSS inside of the education sector. sector. • I think that an incentive policy would I think that an incentive policy would

help educators to make a switch over to help educators to make a switch over to OSS applications. OSS applications.

Early adopters will see a benefit when they Early adopters will see a benefit when they get a small supplement to their pay or a get a small supplement to their pay or a decrease in extra job duties. decrease in extra job duties.

• The additional cost would be offset by the The additional cost would be offset by the decrease in licensing fees, this would motivate decrease in licensing fees, this would motivate users to “learn” the software as early adopters. users to “learn” the software as early adopters.

Everybody needs a ChampionEverybody needs a Champion

The open source movement can The open source movement can change the make up of the 21change the make up of the 21stst century classroom. century classroom. • By eliminating the costly proprietary By eliminating the costly proprietary

software that is incorporated into software that is incorporated into technology educators and managers can technology educators and managers can fill other needs in our schools.fill other needs in our schools.

• The accountant is the champion of the The accountant is the champion of the open source movement. open source movement.

ConclusionConclusion

WHY OSS??WHY OSS??• Money, Plain and simple!!Money, Plain and simple!!

The Savannah Morning News The Savannah Morning News reports that the governor has reports that the governor has allotted $6.96 billion in state allotted $6.96 billion in state funds for education. This is a funds for education. This is a $436.6 million dollar decrease $436.6 million dollar decrease in funds available for system in funds available for system use. use.

How does OSS fit, or fix, the Bill!How does OSS fit, or fix, the Bill!

By eliminating the cost associated with By eliminating the cost associated with site licenses for proprietary software site licenses for proprietary software the district could generate considerable the district could generate considerable savings that could be repurposed to savings that could be repurposed to more meaningful instructional goals. more meaningful instructional goals.

OSS software could help create a OSS software could help create a learning community with in the district learning community with in the district as new applications are installed and as new applications are installed and educators look to each other for educators look to each other for guidance.guidance.

OSS is the Open door to the FutureOSS is the Open door to the Future

We all need to make sure that we have the We all need to make sure that we have the people and mindset in place to walk people and mindset in place to walk through the door when it comes to our through the door when it comes to our schoolsschools• Open Source is more then just the software Open Source is more then just the software

and applications. The concepts of the and applications. The concepts of the movement apply to every facet of education. movement apply to every facet of education. The communal nature of the Open Source The communal nature of the Open Source Movement needs to permeate education at the Movement needs to permeate education at the most basic levels.most basic levels.