Final Paper (Final)

The Movement

 

   When you open your web browser to check your Facebook or iTunes to listen to your music, you don't think of the freedoms you have with those tools. You also don't think about how that software was made or who made it you just use it. The most known movement for Free/Open Source Software was made by Richard Stallman when he started GNU (GNU is Not Unix) a free operating system. His movement to make FOSS/OSS more open and available to people started in 1985 when he started the work on GNU and the Free Software Foundation. Since then Linus Torvalds's Linux kernel (the tool for the hardware to talk to the software) released in 1991 has been mixed with the GNU project to make a free operating system that is used by more than 20 million people currently taken from ‘Richard Stallman: Freedom-His Passion Both For Work And In Life’. 

Making it more usable

   In the early days of OSS development the code, applications, and commands used by the developers themselves were made just their use. It was not in their designs to make the applications user-friendly that anyone can just install the software or operating system just a few mouse clicks. But recently the use of more user-friendly interfaces has increased with GNU/Linux operating systems Ubuntu, Debian and a few others. And thanks for these moves to make the software more easier to use it has put GNU/Linux to be in more demand as you do not need to be a expert to just install it.

   In a statement taken from 'Unlocking the power of open source software' “Investors have clearly taken note. In 2011, an estimated $672.8 million of venture capital was invested in open source-related vendors--an increase of more than 48% from 2010, and the highest total amount invested in any year”. So it is clear to see a more defined need and demand for OSS from all sort of vendors. This could be caused by the call for tools that are more easily changed and fitted for the need of those companies.

   Ever since the start of this movement and Linus's involvement with his kernel the need and knowledge of Open Source Software has never been higher. Open Source Software does not stop at just operating systems, kernels and web browsers there are uses of the software in tools in schools, the military, space and countless other places.

Usage

   In recent years the adaption of FOSS/OSS has reached an apex in its demand from many companies, states, and countries. Currently NASA is switching to Linux for the need of improved reliability but mostly for the ability to patch and make changes where they need them. With Linux over Windows the NASA team has more power over the operating system to make the improvements on the fly. The use of  OSS continues in the military as well, IBM has seen a increase of government projects look for a use of Linux in their offices. A project in the Navy has also released software to audit computers running GNU/Linux over networks taken from ' Open source gets secure: demand for solutions grows as supporters push for security credentials'.

   The advantages of using FOSS/OSS over proprietary (non-OSS) has also been seen by schools to help their IT pros with spam, software distribution, and teachers using the GNU/Linux operating system from 'Open source goes to summer school'. Using FOSS/OSS has the most important benefit to schools is the ability to cut costs but also cut down the time needed for upgrades and maintenance too. 

Support

   Another advantage of FOSS/OSS is its open nature that allows the community to provide support in many areas dealing with the application. The user does not have to wait to talk to a support technician or a machine over the phone. He/She can jump onto chatrooms and internet forums to talk to fellow users who might have solved the problem that you are experiencing. Then you can also find people who speak your language, live in your area, our they might even live right down the street. With this amount of support that is mostly free the cost to the company to provide support is also cut down quite a bit.

Conclusion

   With these examples it is beyond a doubt that thanks to OSS's nature of evolution to meet the specific needs of the companies helps them choose OSS over non-OSS. This ability to evolve all comes from the fact that the code behind the application is freely available to modify, change, and edit to all. This power makes the software easily alternated to better fit the need at the moment. Thanks to the way that FOSS/OSS is developed I believe that it has no where to go but up in its deployment in our everyday lifes, whether it is in our homes, our schools or the cars that we drive.

References:

Richard Stallman: Freedom-His Passion Both For Work And In Life. (2003). Electronic Design, 51(23), 112. 

Anthony Sebastian (n.d.). Retrieved from website: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/155392-international-space-station-switches-from-windows-to-linux-for-improved-reliability

Jackson, J. (2003, May 12). Open source gets secure: demand for solutions grows as supporters push for security credentials. Washington Technology, 18(3), 84. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA118595803&v=2.1&u=lincclin_bwcc&it=r&p=CDB&sw=w

Hochmuth, P. (2006, July 12). Open source goes to summer school; * Open source in K-12 education. Network World. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA148258859&v=2.1&u=lincclin_bwcc&it=r&p=CDB&sw=w

Yves de Montcheuil. Software World. 43.6 (Nov. 2012) p3. Word Count: 1148. Reading Level (Lexile): 1460.