Free Software: History, Perspectives and Implications
'Source Code' – Human readable documents that define a program's logic.
Example:
sub login { my $login = shift; my $password = shift;
my $user = User->new();
my $query="Select id from User where login=? AND password=?"; my $id = $user->dbread('', $query, $login, $password); if ($id) { $user = $user->lookup($id->[0]); $user->{'session'} = &getSession; $user->save; return $user; } else { return; }
}
Early Software Development
● Specialized, expensive computers● Run by highly-skilled technicians● Extensive programming was required even
for simple tasks● Sharing of source code was commonplace
Creation of Software Industry
● Computer hardware became more powerful● Allowed for more complex software● Relative value of software increased, as cost
of hardware decreased● Technology companies begin to restrict their
software
GNU Project
● GNU's Not Unix● Create Fully Free Operating System● Unix base meant tools could be run on many
different types of computers
GNU General Public License
● Protects software from further restrictions● 'copyleft'● 'Free as in Speech, Not as in Beer'
Cathedral vs. Bazaar Models
Cathedral Model● Centralized
Development● Few core
developers● Only release stable
code
Bazaar Model● De-centralized● Many developers● Open process● Frequent releases
Use of Free Software
● Linux 'Clusters'– Many computers acting as one– 49 of 500 top supercomputers run free software– Also used in movie CGI: Titanic, Phantom
Menace, Lord of the Rings made using Linux
●Recipe Analogie●Explanation of Programming●Show some source code●History
●Early days – pre software industry●Stallman anecdote●GPL
●Free as in Freedom●Linux●Widespread use of free software
●Benefits●Cathedral vs. Bazaar●Software is consumer-driven, not profit driven●Given enough eyes, all bugs are shallow
●Motivations●Identity●ego/reputation●For pay
●Oss business models●Urge to create
●Implications●New Class Theory●Progressive uses
●Schools●Governments●Developing nations
●Intellectual Property