The term open source refers to software in which the source code is freely available for others to view, amend, and adapt. Furthermore, open source is generally more stable than proprietary software. Open source software (OSS) is also more secure and less vulnerable to many viruses that are circulating on the Internet. However, the most compelling feature of OSS is that, although there may be some distribution and setup costs, the software is essentially free.
The basic idea behind open source is very simple: When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves. People improve it, adapt it, and fix bugs. And, this can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing. This rapid evolutionary process produces better software than the traditional closed model, in which only very few programmers can see the source. OSS can be very important for a developing country like Nepal. Access to source code will encourage and promote local capacities for software modification and redistribution. It promotes an environment for technical and systems development, as well as the ability to learn, innovate and invent, while stimulating local software industries. More importantly, it promotes independence from foreign software companies and reduces an outflow of funds.
How can it be implemented in our country? Large economic powers like banks, large corporations, INGOs either shelve old computers in the stores or keep them idle (most of them being the 32-bit computers like 386, 486, low end computers). These computers can be reused by customising them by open source operating system (like Linux, Minix, FreeBSD, UNIX variants). With the customised versions, these PCs can be sent to remote villages to educate people, who cannot afford expensive computers. They can also be useful to offices at remote places where the economy is at a lower level.
Likewise government offices, big corporations, INGOs, banks spend millions of rupees each year to buy expensive software from other countries (mainly USA). But interestingly, nearly all software that can be purchased from the market has equivalent free software available in the "Open Source" platform.
Recent examples in the Open Source Movement: GNU/Linux, and a number of useful software that come along with them, are clearly attracting interest. Here are some of the examples:
Pakistan will soon install some 50,000 low cost computers in schools and colleges nationwide. These will be PII computers. Proprietary software for these PCs is of low cost. The use of GNU/Linux is the reason for the overall low price. Pakistan is seriously considering the use of Star Office software as well, saving thousands of rupees over using more expensive and proprietary office software.
In Thailand, all the BIOS setups, command prompt, command processors of the operating system, have been developed in the Thai language. Likewise, the word processor, spreadsheet, and database have been developed in the Thai language. Now, uneducated people can get benefits from using them.
Part of the problem in installing OSS is due to the lack of technical skills to spread GNU/Linux sufficiently. Furthermore, the predominance of pirated versions of proprietary operating systems makes the need for innovation and study of options a low-priority. Although OSS is being used by some users, it is yet to be widely spread.
Governments are seen to prefer open systems: More than two dozen countries in Asia, Europe and Latin America, including China and Germany, are now encouraging their government agencies to use OSS - developed by communities of programmers who distribute the code without charge and donate their labour to debug, modify and otherwise improve the software. Indeed, the advantages of OSS/FS to governments are clear. No government wants their computing infrastructure controlled by one company. Thus, many countries have started considering favouring OSS/FS in some way like in Peru, the UK, and Taiwan.
As an example: South Africa plans to save 3 billion Rands a year (approximately US 338 million), by increasing spending on software that stays in their country, and developing programming skills inside the country. South Africa reports that its small-scale introductions have already saved them 10 million Rands (approximately US 1.1 million). Indeed, so many governments have begun enacting preferences for OSS/FS that Microsoft has sponsored an organisation called the Initiative for Software choice. The motive of this organisation is to forbid governments from considering software licenses when they procure software and to encourage standards that lock out OSS/FS. The initiative also establishes that there should be a fair, competitive market for computer software, both proprietary and Open Source.
