FOSS: General Introduction

This primer introduces Free/Open Source Software (FOSS), its philosophy, history and benefits/disadvantages of FOSS, including developing-country specific issues. It also contains a brief survey of FOSS initiatives in various governments around the world, legislative or otherwise. Other topics such as localization, licensing and Linux are briefly covered. It is meant as a basic introductory document that can be handed to a person when asked, "what is Free/Open Source?"

FOSS General Introduction Primer

FOSS: Government Policy

Examines the issues related to government policies on FOSS. In particular, it focuses on the motivations behind the various FOSS policies in the world today, the process by which they are formulated and suggests implementation strategies that can be utilized.

FOSS Policy Primer

FOSS: Localization

Starts off with a general introduction of localization, its benefits and current localization efforts. Delves into some of the details of what is involved technically in localizing software, the standards involved (Unicode, OpenType fonts, etc). Concludes with details of what governments can do to encourage localization efforts and how technical individuals can get involved.

FOSS Localization Primer

FOSS: Education

This primer covers the use of FOSS from schools to universities. It provides a brief overview of how it can help in setting up the IT infrastructure and administration of educational institutions and considers software (mainly proprietary) which is now used as the basis for IT curricula and alternative FOSS which is available.

FOSS Education Primer

FOSS: Licensing

A fairly short summary of licensing issues involved with using the different FOSS licenses, primarily the GNU GPL license. Offers several scenarios, and proposes a framework for licensing of government sponsored software. Addresses common questions and misconceptions regarding licensing issues.

FOSS Licensing

FOSS: Open Standards

Many public institutions like government agencies and civil society organization are obliged by new legislation to place information in the public domain. Unfortunately many of them are using proprietary format which require members of the public to purchase or illegally copy expensive proprietary software. It will provide a rationale for the use of Open Standards in Government. Also in this primer is an overview of standards setting bodies and FOSS software and tools to create new content as well as migrate to solutions based on Open Standards. There will be sample tenders for ICT projects.

FOSS Open Standards

FOSS: Network Infrastructure and Security

FOSS server applications are considered more reliable and perform better than their proprietary equivalents and their use is growing in setting up network infrastructure. This primer will include reasons for this growth, sample software used and case studies of FOSS implementations for network infrastructure.

FOSS Network Security Infrastructure

FOSS: Open Content

Author: Lawrence Liang
© UNDP-APDIP, Elsevier, 2007, 54 pages
ISBN-10: 974-7170-40-X
ISBN-13: 978-974-7170-40-5

In the move towards an information era, the question of systems designs becomes a critical one. The dominant model of treating information as property through Intellectual Property regimes such as patent and copyright has proved to be detrimental to a number of developing countries. It is now recognised the a very stringent copyright regime threatens free speech, creativity and access. The Open Content Movement, (inspired by the free software movement) has slowly gained momentum as a serious alternative to the exclusionary world of copyright. This primer looks into Open Content is a model of that offers a different ethic of production and distribution, and as an important model through which knowledge and information can be democratized, especially, but not limited to developing countries.

FOSS Open Content

Feedback to IOSN Primers

People are encouraged to give feedback and comments for the primers before and after publication. Feedback and comment on the primers in general can be added below.

Feedback in the form of letters to IOSN are also published such as those recieved by the Business Software Alliance.

Feedback from BSA