Free / Open Source Software (OSS)

in ICT research

Sandro D’Elia

European CommissionInformation Society and Media Directorate General

Software & Service Architectures and Infrastructures Unit

What is this presentation about?

Open source and research why OSS is good for ICT research (and for commercial products too)

Open source and research why OSS is good for ICT research (and for commercial products too)

What does it mean?not all OSS are equals - some definitions.

What does it mean?not all OSS are equals - some definitions.

What is European Union doing Ongoing research activities and funding opportunities

What is European Union doing Ongoing research activities and funding opportunities

What is EU doing outside research There is something outside research. What is EU doing about it?

What is EU doing outside research There is something outside research. What is EU doing about it?

Why is OSS good for research?

OSS is not only about savings on licence costs!

Scientist: “My research project should deliver final results in 2 months. What about that software we need?”Scientist: “My research project should deliver final results in 2 months. What about that software we need?”

Manager: “Don’t worry, I already talked to procurement people. They will use the fast procedure.”Manager: “Don’t worry, I already talked to procurement people. They will use the fast procedure.”

Scientist: “Great! How long will it take?”Scientist: “Great! How long will it take?”

Manager: “Only six months.”Manager: “Only six months.”

Free Software vs. Open Source

Free Software

Free Software Foundation

R. Stallman - 1984

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

Open SourceOpen Source InitiativeE. Raymond, B. Perens - 1998

http://opensource.org/docs/osd

GNU license can be applied to documentationand other media (e.g. Wikipedia)

FREE SOFTWARE DEFINITION

The four freedoms:

The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.

The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.

The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

http://www.gnu.org/philisophy/free-sw.html

1. Free Redistribution - The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software

2. Source Code - The program must include source code

3. Derived Works - The license must allow modifications and derived works

4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code - The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form under specific conditions

5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor7. Distribution of License8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software10. License Must Be Technology-Neutral

http://opensource.org/docs/osd

OPEN SOURCE DEFINITION

1. Free Redistribution - The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software

2. Source Code - The program must include source code

3. Derived Works - The license must allow modifications and derived works

4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code - The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form under specific conditions

5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups

6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor

7. Distribution of License

8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product

9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software

10. License Must Be Technology-Neutral

http://opensource.org/docs/osd

DEFINITION(s)

The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.

The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.

The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

http://www.gnu.org/philisophy/free-sw.html

Free Software vs. Open Source

Free Software is Open SourceOpen Source can be not-free

examples:

- TiVo digital video recorder uses Open Source software with hardware restrictions (Tivoization)

- Open Source Digital Rights Management is not Free Software

In European Institutions, the traditional word is FLOSS

F = Free / Frei

L = Libre / Livre / Libero

O = Open

S = Source

S = Software

Why is OSS good for research?

OSS is a way to– develop or maintain software– distribute and reuse software

in a manner facilitating:• fast innovation and improvement cycles• high code quality through transparent and verifiable

process

(Linus' Law: given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow)

Why is OSS bad for research?

OSS is a way to– dump a few libraries on a Forge– forget about it– hope that a “community” will automagically be created and

solve all your technical problems

so that:• your research project looks cool• you have an excuse to avoid working on

dissemination of your scientific results (“but we released everything as open source!”)

Why is OSS good for products?

Upgrade(take an existing software and add features to it)

Modify / Fork(take an existing software and customize it)

Community support(got a problem? Somebody has already solved it)

Why is OSS good for products?Why is OSS good for products?

And by the way, here are a few OSS-based products I own...

Why is OSS bad for products?

Here are just a few major Linux distributions….

Governance can be a real problem!

Darwinian evolution model for OSS products

FOSS in ICT research

How is EU research organized?

the theory:➔ Framework Programme (FP7)

➔ Workprogramme (e.g.: 2009-10)➔ Objectives (e.g.: 1.2)

in practice:Calls for Proposals (e.g.: FP7-ICT-2009-5)Selection of proposalsFunding of research projects

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html

FOSS in ICT research workprogramme 2009/2010

Objectives 1.2.: Internet of Services, Software and Virtualisation

a) Service Architectures and Platforms for the Future Internet Service Front Ends …. Open, scalable, dependable service platforms, architectures, and specific platform components… Virtualised infrastructures…

b) Highly Innovative Service / Software Engineering Service / Software engineering methods and tools… Verification and validation… Methods, tools and approaches specifically supporting the development, deployment and evolution of open source software. Investigation into the use of open source approaches for improving service engineering, deployment, management, evolution and take-up.

c) Coordination and support actions Support for standardisation and collaboration… Maximisation of impact of projects in this area…

Application of open source models of development and innovation through rapid

cycles of reuse and improvement to service engineering.

search CORDIS web site for info

Forge technology: facilitating access/re-useand supporting collaboration

Methodologies and tools to improve productivity and quality of software products

Quality assessment, based on product and process, to facilitate selection of software satisfying given expectations

Dependency management in large systems with versioned components

Deployment and societal impact of OSS

Some OSS research projects in INFSO

(ongoing in 2010)

Research projects in ICT Call 5 (starting 2010)

Open-Source API and Platform for Multiple

Clouds

Active support and reaL-time coordination open source software developmenT

Projects releasing full OSS resultsCHOReOS Cloud-TM CONTRAIL FastFix FITTEST Indenica OMELETTE PLAY

REMICS Serenoa SOCIETIES SocIoS VISION (+ mOSAIC, WAX, ALERT)

Projects releasing partial OSS results4CaaST ACSI Cloud4SOA I2Web OPTIMIS VIPER

Projects not mentioning OSSCumuloNimbo

Open-Source platform for Secure WebOS Application Delivery Environment

Projects with primary focus on OSS

OSS research in INFSO

The trends

Most projects release their code as Open Source but is this enough? Putting code on a repository does not guarantee that

it will be used!

Open source is a good idea for most project evaluators :-)during evaluations of project proposals, typically highest marks are given to proposals which will release their results as OSS

Cloud computing means Open Sourcein cloud environments, “old” licensing modes are not easily applicable. There is a strong trend toward OSS in the cloud.Economic model: software is free, you pay for the service

OSS research in INFSO

Open source is not good for everybody in many cases, companies need to protect their intellectual property

rights to exploit an idea after investing on it

Open source is a very powerful tooleasy for SMEs, fast time to market, many success stories, a cornerstone for academic research

There is no “research on Open Source” (code does not change its behaviour if it is OSS or proprietary)BUT: - “community” development model is very interesting for research

- “forge” tools are interesting for software development - OSS has an important positive impact on society - OSS is very good for dissemination of project results

The vision

Open Source and Open Standards at the European Commission

Open source and Open Standards are related to many different policy areas for the European Union

Different DGs of the European Commission have initiatives in these areas

Open Source and Open Standards at the European Commission

Open standards e.g. in IT procurement

Research and future internet

IPR policies for OSS Public

procurement

e-government

Consumer protection

Open Source and Open Standards at the European Commission

Competition (DG COMP): policy for open and well documented standards e.g. in IT procurement.Vision: standards and patents should not create barriers to innovationExample: Commissioner Kroes speech 2008 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/08/317

Health and Consumer (DG SANCO): policy for consumer rights and protectionVision: proposed directive for consumer rights should give the same level of consumer protection across EU, also for contracts related to software (opportunity for OSS)Example: proposed “Consumer Protection” directivehttp://ec.europa.eu/consumers/rights/docs/COMM_PDF_COM_2008_0614_F_EN_PROPOSITION_DE_DIRECTIVE.pdf

Enterprise and industry (DG ENTR): standardizationVision: ICT standards should improve IPR policies to accommodate the open source modelExample: white paper “Modernising ICT Standardisation in the EU - The Way Forward” http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/document.cfm?action=display&doc_id=3152&userservice_id=1

Open Source and Open Standards at the European Commission

Internal Market (MARKT): policy for public procurementVision: public Tenders should use Open Standards and be vendor neutral (Directive 2004/18/EC)If an infringement is reported, DG MARKT can ask for an infringement procedurehttp://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/legislation_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/policy_en.htm

Open Source and Open Standards at the European Commission

Informatics (DIGIT): interoperability solutionsOld IDABC programme --> new ISA programmeSupport of interoperability  Reusable generic tools Common services

Strong focus on Open Source as interoperability enabler– EUPL – open source license adapted to EU legal systems– OSOR.EU – open source repository for public administrations– ePractice – community of best practices for public administrations

http://ec.europa.eu/isa/http://ec.europa.eu/idabchttp://www.osor.eu/http://www.epractice.eu/

Open Source and Open Standards at the European Commission

Question: “How did you write this nice presentation on Open Source?”Question: “How did you write this nice presentation on Open Source?”

Answer: “With Microsoft PowerPoint, of course.

It is the standard tool in use at the European Commission.”

Answer: “With Microsoft PowerPoint, of course.

It is the standard tool in use at the European Commission.”

… but luckily I was able to make last-minute changes using Ubuntu and OpenOffice on my netbook, because open source software is flexible and based on open standards.

Contact Information

European Commission, INFSO D 3 unit – “Software and Services”

e-mail: infso-st@ec.europa.eu

Unit Web Site: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/ssai/foss-home_en.html

FP7 Web Site: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/