Free Software«Standing on the Shoulders of Nerds»

What is Free Software?

• Free

• Works OK

• Poorly documented

• Horrible UI

• Version 0.3a

Examples

Creuna Platform

Plone

Plone

Zope

Python

Windows/Mac/Linux

Developed by enthusiastsCore of main developersContibutions from a large communityActive mailing listControlled by Plone FoundationDevelopers sell consulting servicesGPL-licence

RedHat – Enterprise Confusion

Enterprise Linux Focus on stability Sold with subscription service Patent idemnification

Klone av RedHatGratis

Grew out of RedHat in 2004 Developed by RedHat and community Bleeding edge Free

SUN

• MySQL Community Server• MySQL Enterprise Unlimited

• Java is a specification• Several implementations, including OpenJDK

• Community version of Solaris• Commercial Solaris draws on OpenSolaris

• Complete office suite

eZ Publish

Apache Software Foundation

• ”Meritocracy in action”

• Incubator and umbrella organisation

• Apache Software Licence

• 50+ projects

• Began with the Apache HTTP-server

• ApacheCon

Business Models

• Idealism

• Sell commercial add-ons

• Sell support and services

• Promote commercial version (more powerfull)

• Generate buzz

• Gain critical mass

Advantages

• Transparent

• Free

• Modifiable

• Build on and improve other people’s work

• 10.000 eyes...

• Access to developers

• Fast/only way to critical mass

Downsides

• Noone to hang

• Documentation is boring

• Projects get dropped

• Patent threats

Open or Free?

• More or less the same

• Free Software Foundation = Dogmatic

• Open Source Initiative = Pragmatic

Licences

• GNU GPL version 3.0

• GNU LGPL

• GNU AGPL

• BSD

• Apache Licence

• Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL)

• And hundreds more…