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Strategies & PoliciesStrategies & Policies
for the implementation offor the implementation of
Free & and Open Source SoftwareFree & and Open Source Software
in Higher Education Institutionsin Higher Education InstitutionsPaul ScottPaul Scott
University of Western CapeUniversity of Western Cape
Prof. Dr. Frederik QuestierProf. Dr. Frederik QuestierVrije Universiteit BrusselVrije Universiteit Brussel
Presented at Universidad 2010Presented at Universidad 2010Havana, CubaHavana, Cuba
AttributionNon-commercial
Share alikeLicense
(except figures)
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Who are we?Who are we?
Paul ScottPaul Scott
University of Western Cape, South AfricaUniversity of Western Cape, South Africa
Head of free software innovation unitHead of free software innovation unit
Architect and lead developer of ChisimbaArchitect and lead developer of Chisimba
Frederik QuestierFrederik Questier
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, BelgiumVrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Professor learning technologiesProfessor learning technologies
Dokeos / Chamilo e-learning platformDokeos / Chamilo e-learning platform
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OverviewOverview
Free & Open Source SoftwareFree & Open Source Software
What?What?
Why?Why?
Barriers?Barriers?
Strategies and policies for implementationStrategies and policies for implementation
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Por un mundo mejorPor un mundo mejor
"The most fundamental way of helping other people,"The most fundamental way of helping other people,
is to is to teachteach people how to do things better people how to do things better
or how to better their lives.or how to better their lives.
For people who use computers,For people who use computers,
this means this means sharingsharing the recipes you use on your computer, the recipes you use on your computer,
in other words the programs you run."in other words the programs you run."
Richard StallmanRichard Stallman
Free Software Foundation.Free Software Foundation.
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Free (Libre Open Source) SoftwareFree (Libre Open Source) SoftwareFLOSSFLOSS
The The freedomfreedom to to
run run the program for any purposethe program for any purpose
studystudy how the program works, how the program works, and to adapt it to your needs
redistributeredistribute copies copies
improve the program, and improve the program, and release your release your improvementsimprovements to the public. to the public.
These freedoms require access to the source codeThese freedoms require access to the source codeSource code: if encrypt(password) == encryptedpassword, then login=1, end
Compiled code: 001001011101010011001100001111011000110001110001101
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The free software worldThe free software worldcharacteristicscharacteristics
HugeHuge
e.g. 230K projects, 2M contributors @ sourceforge.nete.g. 230K projects, 2M contributors @ sourceforge.net
e.g. IBM > 1 billion $ per yeare.g. IBM > 1 billion $ per year
Several business modelsSeveral business models
Well organisedWell organised
User friendlyUser friendly ← written by users for users← written by users for users
Cross-platformCross-platform ← recompile source code← recompile source code
High development paceHigh development pace ← reuse of best modules← reuse of best modules
High qualityHigh quality ← peer review, reuse = survival of the fittest← peer review, reuse = survival of the fittest
High securityHigh security ← peer review, Unix origin, modular, encryption← peer review, Unix origin, modular, encryption
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Why FLOSS?Why FLOSS?
reduce (license) costsreduce (license) costs
reduce digital dividereduce digital divide
eliminate software piracyeliminate software piracy
easier license managementeasier license management
easy to localize and customizeeasy to localize and customize
better qualitybetter quality (peer review, intrinsic-motivated developers)(peer review, intrinsic-motivated developers)
increase securityincrease security (security by design vs security by obscurity)(security by design vs security by obscurity)
increase interoperability increase interoperability (open standards)(open standards)
reduce dependencies reduce dependencies from monopolies & foreign software companiesfrom monopolies & foreign software companies
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Who believes softwareWho believes softwareis better Free and Open?is better Free and Open?
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Who is using FLOSS?Who is using FLOSS?
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Why are you not using FLOSS?Why are you not using FLOSS?
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Perceived barriers?Perceived barriers?
Following the herd?Following the herd?
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Perceived barriers?Perceived barriers?
pre-installation of closed softwarepre-installation of closed software
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Perceived barriers?Perceived barriers?
Fear, Uncertainty and Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt aboutDoubt about
features?features?
quality? (hobbyist quality? (hobbyist programmers)programmers)
sustainability?sustainability?
support?support?
requirement to requirement to participate in the participate in the community?community?
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Perceived barriers?Perceived barriers?
anti-competitive behaviouranti-competitive behaviour
monopoly abusemonopoly abuse
secret formatssecret formats
secret protocolssecret protocols
data and vendor lock-insdata and vendor lock-ins
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Perceived barriers?Perceived barriers?
transition coststransition costs
limited in house expertiselimited in house expertise
plethora of choice?plethora of choice?
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Who can break the monopoly?Who can break the monopoly?
EducationEducation
““We teach MS because that is what companies use”We teach MS because that is what companies use”
CompaniesCompanies
““We cannot use FLOSS because our employees don't know it”We cannot use FLOSS because our employees don't know it”
EmployeesEmployees
Growing number starts using FLOSS at homeGrowing number starts using FLOSS at home
Not happy with inferior software at workNot happy with inferior software at work
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Institutional FLOSS taskforce / Institutional FLOSS taskforce / expertise / innovation centerexpertise / innovation center
Create awarenessCreate awareness
Involve all stakeholdersInvolve all stakeholders
including highest managementincluding highest management
Expertise & capacity buildingExpertise & capacity building
Resources for experimentation & innovationResources for experimentation & innovation
Provide support – sustainabilityProvide support – sustainability
DocumentationDocumentation
Training → certificationTraining → certification
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PoliciesPolicies
Purchasing policiesPurchasing policies
FLOSS, except if no good alternativeFLOSS, except if no good alternative
AskAsk
argumentationargumentation
which alternatives consideredwhich alternatives considered
Build or buy?Build or buy?
Open standardsOpen standards
Open coursewareOpen courseware
Free & Open LicensesFree & Open Licenses
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How to handleHow to handlethe plethora of choice?the plethora of choice?
define requirementsdefine requirements
indicators of high quality & sustainabilityindicators of high quality & sustainability
mature, stable softwaremature, stable software
active communityactive community
availability of support & documentationavailability of support & documentation
need/possibility to change the code?need/possibility to change the code?
need/possibility to participate in the community?need/possibility to participate in the community?
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When to migrate?When to migrate?
Time transitionsTime transitions
at the end of existing contractsat the end of existing contracts
at hardware / software upgrade timesat hardware / software upgrade times
Consider migrating in phasesConsider migrating in phases
serversservers
desktop applicationsdesktop applications
→ → multi-platformmulti-platform
→ → web-basedweb-based
desktop OSdesktop OS
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Key success factorsKey success factorsfor migration & implementationfor migration & implementation
resources to experimentresources to experiment
an evidence-based choicean evidence-based choice
involvement of both technical and non-technical users in involvement of both technical and non-technical users in the selection processthe selection process
choice for a new system which is in all aspects at least choice for a new system which is in all aspects at least as good and easy as the previous oneas good and easy as the previous one
reporting detailed migration plan to management and get reporting detailed migration plan to management and get their approval and supporttheir approval and support
in-house expertise with open source software and in-house expertise with open source software and communitiescommunities
contact with the developers and users communitycontact with the developers and users community
Constant communication with all stakeholdersConstant communication with all stakeholders
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Advantages of being aAdvantages of being acontributing community membercontributing community memberco-decide the direction of developmentco-decide the direction of development
create extensionscreate extensions
user requesteduser requested
research driven innovationresearch driven innovation
more contacts with other educational institutionsmore contacts with other educational institutions
programming projects for studentsprogramming projects for students
better knowledge of the systembetter knowledge of the system
better trouble solvingbetter trouble solving
possibilities for grantspossibilities for grants
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The open wayThe open way
avoid local customization withoutavoid local customization without
contributing backcontributing back
participating in the communityparticipating in the community
establish an 'open source culture' of re-use, establish an 'open source culture' of re-use, collaboration and sharingcollaboration and sharing
Provide FLOSS repositories / CDsProvide FLOSS repositories / CDs
share experiencesshare experiences
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Questions? Thanks!Questions? Thanks!
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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsSourcesSources
PicturesPictures
Doubt by Elenaa Marie (Flickr)Doubt by Elenaa Marie (Flickr)
Lockin, claustrofobia by Laororo (Flickr)Lockin, claustrofobia by Laororo (Flickr)
Pain Curve, creative commons by P. ScottPain Curve, creative commons by P. Scott
Social networking, creative commons by F. QuestierSocial networking, creative commons by F. Questier