the use of floss in governments
DESCRIPTION
Governments across the world are implementing Free/Libre and Open Source Software. This presentation highlights some key factors to assist Governments to achieving their FLOSS objectives.TRANSCRIPT
Presentat ion by:Nico Elema
GOVERNMENT OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE RESOURCE CENTRE – GOV-OSS-RC www.goss rc .o rg
THE USE OF FLOSS IN GOVERNMENTS
www.gossrc.orgThe use of FLOSS in Governments by Nico Elema is
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
GOVERMENT OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE RESOURCE CENTRE
www.gossrc.org
GOV-OSS-RC Endorsements
● University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
● Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA)
● Open Source Software Institute (USA)
● Government Open Source Conference GOSCON
What do we do?
Helping you access information on how Governments, from around the world, are using Free/Libre and Open Source Software
What do we do?
Collect information on global level.
Training
Research
Proprietary Solution: FLOSS Solution
GOV-OSS-RC ResearchENTERPRISE GIS
•15 non-concurrent desktop users; unlimited browser viewers.•1 GIS user that can edit data.•Min GIS License fees: US$ 52 500.00(excluding server and Database software)
•Unlimited desktop and browser users •GIS & Db License fees: US$0.00 (Excluding servers)
•MS SQL; Oracle; PostgreSQL (database)•ArcGIS Server – Standard (SDE + Map serving on web)•ArcEditor (1 license)(Edit maps on desktop)•ArcView ( 15 nonc licenses (3 per LA)) for Desktop analysis
•PostgreSQL (database)•PostGIS (spatially enables PostgreSQL)•Mapserver (Internet map generator)•MapWindow GIS/Quantum GIS (desktop GIS analysis and capture)
Syndication contributors
* Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) and mailing lists
* GOSCON (USA)
* NRCFOSS - India
* Open Source Industry Australia
* OSOR.eu – Open Source Observatory and Repository (Europe)
* ossa.org.za (SA)
* OSSI News and Updates (USA)
* Tectonic (SA)
* UKGovOSS.org (UK)
Is it possible to report on Government FLOSS use per country?
It is possible to report on focus areas and lessons learnt
It is possible to report on focus areas and lessons learnt
Focus of governments and pressure groups
Developing FLOSS policies
Promote open standards
Procurement – levelling the playing field
Why do gov need FLOSS Policy?
India 2010 (GoI):GoI aim to make Government services accessible to the common man in his locality and ensure efficiency, transparency & reliability of such services at affordable costs; in addition to this, GoI endeavours to provide services to all other stakeholders like public agencies and their employees and business communities.
Example of a FLOSS Policy
South Africa
22 February 2007 the SA Cabinet approved the Policy on Free and Open Source Software use for South African Government
5 Key points and are as follows:
South African Government Policy on Free and Open Source Software - 1
1) The South African Government will implement FLOSS unless proprietary software is demonstrated to be significantly superior. Whenever the advantages of FLOSS and proprietary software are comparable FLOSS will be implemented when choosing a software solution for a new project. Whenever FLOSS is not implemented, then reasons must be provided in order to justify the implementation of proprietary software.
2) The South African Government will migrate current proprietary software to FLOSS whenever comparable software exists.
South African Government Policy on Free and Open Source Software - 2
3) All new software developed for or by the South African Government will be based on open standards, adherent to FLOSS principles, and licensed using a FLOSS license where possible.
South African Government Policy on Free and Open Source Software - 3
4) The South African Government will ensure all Government content and content developed using Government resources is made Open Content, unless analysis on specific content shows that proprietary licensing or confidentiality is substantially beneficial.
South African Government Policy on Free and Open Source Software - 4
5) The South African Government will encourage the use of Open Content and Open Standards within South Africa.
South African Government Policy on Free and Open Source Software - 5
LESSON 1: Governments FLOSS policy need accountability
Internal auditing mechanisms
External pressure and communication groups
Governments FLOSS policy need accountability
Internal auditing mechanisms
Brazil – Auditor General
Governments FLOSS policy need accountability
External pressure and communication groups
Governments FLOSS policy need to be accountable
External groupsCanada (Nov 2010)
L'APELL - tender number 999103730 "MIGRATION OF WORKSTATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE CSPQ OF MSG AND SERVICES QUÉBEC". APELL questioned the legality of the tender awards as de facto market to multinational proprietary software, without competition, without comparison with the solutions in free software
Open Standards – News just in...
“...political parties in the Portuguese parliament want to make the use of open standards mandatory for public administrations.”
Source: www.OSOR.eu
Promote Open Standards
Interoperability to enable the exchange of data and harmonisation of business transactions across government.
Open Standards covers common methods, data formats, concepts, terms and document styles for the communication, storage, processing and presentation of data.
Open Standards
There are various open standards integrating
● Systems● Hardware● Protocols● File formats● Programming languages
Companies want to do business with government and visa-versa
CNLL** says that France's public administrations spend an amount equal to one-tenth of the country's GDP on public procurement.
. Source: OSOR.eu
**National Council of Free Software (CNLL), a group representing French providers of free and open source software services
Procurement
FRANCE:
Research by OpenForum Europe, at least 20 percent of all IT tenders are breaking the procurement rules by requesting a single solution or technology.
Source: OSOR.eu
Way forward
Governments:Create FLOSS Policies making and make provision for Open Standards and fair Procurement.
Possibly start with the education systems.
Implement internal accountability structures.
Way forward
I want YOU to...
support pressure and communication groups;
be vocal;
ask questions … AND...
Way forward
I want YOU to...
Support the GOV-OSS-RC at www.gossrc.org and at LinkedIn
