About FOSS
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED!
STRICTLY NO WALK IN REGISTRATION ON JANUARY 18, 2010
WHAT IS FOSS?
Free/Open Source Software is software that is made available along with source code as a distinctive feature. It is often available at no cost.Users can use and distribute the software. And if they so wish, they can study the source code and modify it to suit their needs.The modified version of the software can also be redistributed. In contrast, proprietary software is licensed to users for a fee and the source code is usually closely guarded and not made available to users. It is illegal to make copies and distribute proprietary software without paying additional licensing fees.
STRICTLY NO WALK IN REGISTRATION ON JANUARY 18, 2010
WHAT IS FOSS?
Free/Open Source Software is software that is made available along with source code as a distinctive feature. It is often available at no cost.Users can use and distribute the software. And if they so wish, they can study the source code and modify it to suit their needs.The modified version of the software can also be redistributed. In contrast, proprietary software is licensed to users for a fee and the source code is usually closely guarded and not made available to users. It is illegal to make copies and distribute proprietary software without paying additional licensing fees.
There is a fine distinction between Free Software and Open Source Software. The Free Software movement focuses on moral and ethical issues relating to the freedom of users to use, study, modify and redistribute software.
Open Source advocates take a more corporate approach, focusing on the advantages of the Open Source software development method. For most purposes, Free Software and Open Source Software can be considered to be the same and we refer to it as Free/Open Source Software (FOSS).
WHY FOSS?
Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) is a recent phenomenon that has the potential to revolutionize the software industry. It has already gained a strong foothold in the server software segment, with a leading market share worldwide in some software categories. It is also gaining ground in desktop applications and it has been predicted that its use on the desktop will become significant in the near future.
Interest in FOSS is growing globally, particularly in developing countries. Governments are considering policies to promote its use, businesses are recognizing its potential and various other sectors are giving increasing attention to the opportunity for localization that it presents.
The impact of FOSS will be felt in many areas.
Reference:
UNDP- IOSN's Free Open Source Software in Education Primer
By Tan Wooi Tong
Reference:
UNDP- IOSN's Free Open Source Software in Education Primer
By Tan Wooi Tong
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