Table Of Contenty
i
i
v;
Niranjan Rajani, M.A (Philosophy)
in collaboration with Juha Rekola and Timo Mielonen
Free as in Education
Significance of the Free/Libre and Open Source
Software for Developing Countries
Freaes Eidnu cation
Signifiocfta hnFecr ee e/Libre
andO peSno urScoef tware
foDre veloCpoiunngt ries
NiraRnajjaann i
M.A( Philosophy)
inc ollaborwaittiho n
JuhRae koalnaTd i mMoi elonen
for
MinifsotFrro yr eAiffgani -rFsi nland
OneWorFlidn laanndKd E PA
HelsiFniknil,a nd
2002-2003
Introduction
Duritnhlgea st ocyfoe uatprhlusees o efF ree/OLpieSbnorr uecS eot fwa(rFOeL S)S
hagsa thmeormeedn twuhmih,ca hss u rpirtipssr eodp oanneodnp tpso naelnitkse .
Lookaitn gt hei wtfo iugnluodrbt eea s ne, x aaggteitroosn a y thIantt eitrshn ee t
pwoerbeyFd L OSS.(1S eDea.vW ihde e-lWehryO SS/FS?)
Givseunca h hsupgreie nta hdue s oefF LOSS avnesrdyi igntisef ciocnaonmti c
impatchqteu, e satriiosnisn gp efrrsiopvmoee fdc te thlveoe pmaeiandnt sd u stainable
deevlopmaerDneot:e FsL OSoSfe frd eevlopcionugn atnrsyii egsn iaflitcevarenn ta ti
ina ddrecsrsuipcnrigoa bll seumcashts, h e iaaltolifpeo ovnvt eytr,hd ee mocratization
ofs ocyi,t ehte reodfiu lclatic,icty ooennr flict arcecdteuosc stl eimdoogwnel,, dealing
with naturaanld coeatmlheaermrgi eetncti?c.De iosee FssL, O ShSa vtehp eo tential
toh elp brdiidggdieitv atilhd ee ?
Ino uvri etwh,ae n swteomr osso tft haeb oqvuee stiiasdo enfisn YiEt,Sbe u t
withaotuttr isboummteai gnigc s wtaatntaoud ns ty e chyne,os lpioeagIclnlfoyr mation
and CommuTnecihcnaotli(ooIgnC,isiT e n)sc luFdLOiSnSg.
Thseo luttoti hopenr so bflaecmdisen lvgoe pcionugn atrrveie ecrsoy mpalnedx ,
ICTa nd FcLaOanStb S e psrto vaih deel phianngdh utmoa ns dettose ovrlem ined
thopsreo blLeamcskti.hn eg pwoilalinltsd io ccfaiolar nlce ecse tssos oalprvryeo blems,
antye chyni ojslu oasgnto tthoweohrli mcahty h ruosiw n "ttohe nco-oipst,mti "hmat
its,h e be"lfiueetfcu rotenh poarmtoi scp ideser pietnyud peonnt tdheevo replampeindt
onfa tieolneaclit nrfroansitcr wuictthauocrutetums ae"la lnfuyil nslgoy ltvhibenu gr ning
probfalceimtnshg de e voepliwnogr ld.
Commenotnti hnrego lei mapnaodcfB t a ngaclaoproieftt, ah Ilen dsitaanot fe
Karnaatnatdkh aa,t yc'foosru enmthoris-ttc eecnhtn roete,ec do noamniNdso tb el
laurDeraA.tm ea rSteynas2 a i"dN:ec we ntorfee xlscl eesnuccaehsB nagalcoarne
prosapnefdrl ouYretie svhe1.n00 B angawloournleodst Isnod'lspiv oaev earntdy
deep-isneeaqtyue.Fad ol trih ttiosh appmeann,my o rpee ompulsep ta rtiicni pate
gro.wT thhiwsib leld i ffictuol ta cahcireovsesr rtiohefier l slb iaitlheler haaa lcnty,d
inequiasnlo icatinieadecl so noopmpiocr t.u("nf irTtohimOee x sfaEmd ucaRtepioornt
Chap1t)e3r
Alreaattdh ysi tsa wgese h,o nuolttdeh ta htpe r essetnuitds y neocto naonm ics
basoendTe h.te e arme spofonris ti bellxaepc ekir net ciosneo miicnsso m,ta kainndg
ansyi gnificarnetg acrtldhiaiemin pmgoas cfI tC To ne conoHmaiveissn.agt i hda t,
wec asnt rielftleoa nr u mboesfrt uadnivdei sew whisc ahc tusahlotlwhy ta hte irnseo
dirleicbntewk te ecno mputeprrsoc dtautinyFvd.oii rn stWaonrclBeda, ne kc onomist
CharKlenenysi, hn i wse alrlg umpeanptaeeatWrd I DEcRo enrfeonnNc eewE conomy
iMna 2y 002b,ev4lei tseh taht'e " Soplraoawd'5 o- xwidesepvriedaoedfcn o cmep uter
use,e ivldietontf(clwi eed espprreuoacddt)ig vriot-wytc hontianltue ieamnsso ,td ified
from."
Warniangga itnescth no-oapnptdii nmnitisonmmog a nhyo poents h Ien ternet
anIdC ,TK enny "nTohItene tse:ir aspn oewte trefcuhln tohlwaoitghl yal va le o ng
terimm poanctt hq eu aolilfetii yfnd e evlopcionugn tarn"idHe vsai"sn agti hdao tu,r
recionprr de ditchdteyi nnagim mipcao cftte chnoolndo eglvioeepsmi entn hte past
habse evne ry Twote aatkkhe.r c eoem municateixoapnmlset-shrr,eea lialwtwaeasdy
preditcost peatdrh dkei ctatooftr hpserh oilpe tthatere ilaetwg,arp sar pehd itcot ed
engeewrno drpledaa cnetdh tee lieotvnoi srevoelduutcniaB.otr nidoiolaziyaet,p pears
theavte n twhhei olrfteo e lceh nionel coognyog mroiwcct ahn bneoq tu estioned, the
dynaimmipca ocfatp arutliaicrn,v etnetcehdyn i onsle ovgveerrl ya .rI gtle ooks
incrleayais stf ih inemg poatfch tce o mpoutnUe Spr r ocdtuiwviibltealyg ooedx ample
oft h.i sThe hiambspe aecnt lsiofm aiartn,med id g nhott iincntr hfeeua ts.ue"r e
(ChaKrelnenTsyh I:e n tearnnEdec to nomici nLGe raoDswettv he lCoopuendt ries.
A CasoefM anagEixenpcgit oants?)6
•
Att hsea mtei mheo,w ewveec ra,nn o tteh IaCt,T o rr athelra octfkih te, does
signifiicmapneatdclecy te ois nsf ormaantkdin oonw lfeodrgv eaa ms atoj riotfy
deevlopcionugn tersipieeatsclh,le ayic ra daenmedid cu caitnisotniastltu utdieonntss,,
goevrnmoeffnitc eicaolnsoa,mn fiidnc a nicnisatli tbuutsiionenetssc,s. e s,
Thmea ionbc jteiovtfeh r iesp hoarbste etnoa n altyhsseie g niafnirdce alnecvea nce
of FLfOodSreS v peilcnoogu ntIrndi oeisn.wg e h saovt,er iteod atb arkileeo fao tk
i
thteh oev eursaoelfI l C Ta nFdL OSeSs,pi eaacltls yo moefi tmso ssti gniafnidc ant
popluasrot fwarseu,ca hsG NU/LiAnpaucxh,Me o,z iOlpleaOn,ff c iee tacsw, e alsl
itpso ssiimbploaenct ths eo cileitvieeessc,,o naonomdtfi h peees o opfl etc hoousnet ries.
Asn oted oeuafrro lciiuntes hr si,ts u idmsyo roent hwei diemrp aocfIt C Ta nd
FLOSoSns oicetieosne ctohnaonTm hiaicwtssh .wy e h avter iteod laton ouakm ber
oifs swuheihsci hn adm eorrw ei desupsree aoidfgn Ie CnTae nrFadLl O SipSna rticular
inm osotft he eldoepvwionrgl d. Keepaih nogso tfs ioincap lom,li inatdni dc al
econofacmtiocer sspi,ea tclhloeyv ehruaglceloo sfet m ploIyCiT(nc go mpounded in
moscta sbeyhs a rcdu rrsehnocryt, agcweoesn )tenFdL OtSohSffae atrn as f rfdoable
anuds eaflutle vretn opa rtoiparrsiyote fwtafroer t hacelo ln cepranreitdnit e hso se
countgroivneemsre:np tusb,il nisct iteduutciaoNtnGisOo,asn n ,td h e psreicvtaotre.
(i) Th"ed etveerclmoou pnitnurgsi ieentdsh s"it su idmsye atnodte scarg irobouecfp o unatlrtieevrnsea ltyi
descraistb hTeehd i Wrodr lodrm, o rree ceMnatjloyCr oiutnyt Trhifeeo sr.ms eorc ialisotr countries,
th'ec ounitntr riaenss foarrmneao ittni colniu'nd estdth yui.ds
Anotohbeejcrt hiavbsee etnoe vuaalptreo tjwseh ciucthi FlLiOsSteSe chineosl og
antdso e weh etthheheray va ensy i gniifmipcoaanctn thdt ee mocraotcfio zuanttiroine s,
increaacscteeodks nso wleednghea,nt chiqenu ga lietdyu coafat niadoi nd,i ng
sustadienlvaoebplmeWee nh ta.vt er iteoad c hitehovabete j ctbiygv oei bnegy otnhde
purteelcyh mneircaiantluds s o eFf L OSaSnl do ok insvteenraaydt o uFfarL teO tShSe
(ipthsi loosffor epedhoyom p,e ncnoemsmsu,an cittiyva anctdoi lorlnaa tbnioavteu re)
awse almsla kel ibane kwt eeFnL OSaSna dn dye voeplmeenftrfadtole penudpaonnt
humans dettose ovrelpm rionbelde ms.
Wel etthr ee ader idwfeet h eavrsemu icnceei enadc ehdi etvhioonsbgejt eicvWee s.
caonn rleyi ttehrFaaLttO eSa Snd de evlopcionugn mtarkiege rsae p aatr tnership.
Hels2i8nF'kehib ,r 2u0a0r3y
NiraanRn ajajni TimMoi elonen JuhRae kola
TabolfeC ontents
Introduction . .. . 2
............................................... ....... .. ................................... ............
Acknloewdgement.s . . . 7
............. ........... ................................ .......... ...........................
Foreword 8
................................................................................................................
Chapt.e.r. .1. .....................1.3. .................................................................................
A BriOevfe rvioeftw h eF reLei braen dO penS ourScoeftw arMeo vement1s 3
..
FrSeoet fware . . 13
........... ................................................ ..................................
OpeSnor ucIen ittiivae .. . . 15
.................................... . ............................... .... ....
Hackaenrwdsh amtot ivtahteems . 16
..................... .........................................
Chap2t er ... . 19
.................... . ........................................................................... .........
Freaesi nE ducation 19
......................................................................................
IntelPlreocpteuratly ...2 0
............................................................................ .. ...
SotfwaPraet .e.n..t.s. ..........................2.3. ........................................................
GNUP ubLliicce .n.s.e. ................2.5. .............................................................
PubDloimca .i.n. ...................2.8. ....................................................................
Shakesferpee.da!r e . 28
......................................... ........................................
Chap3t. e.r. .......................3.0. .................................................................................
TheEx pansioofnF LOSSi deianst oot heWra lkosf L ife 30
...............................
OpeLna w .. .. 30
............................................... .. ...................................... .. ......
OpeSno uBricooegl y .. .. . 31
........ . ............................ ......... ...............................
MITO penCWoaurre.s .e.................3.3. ..........................................................
PreocjGtu tenabneBdroo gkO sn line .. . 33
......................... ........ ......................
FrDeiec tioannEadnr ciyecsl ope.d.ias . 34
......... ..... ................... ........................
OpeMnu sMiocv ement .. . .. 35
. .................. ... ........................ .......... . ................
Chap4t. e.r. .........................................3..8.. .............................................................
MostS uccesExsafumlp leosfF LOSSP rojeacntdTs e chnologies 38
...................
GNU/Lxi. n.u....................3.8. ...................................................................
Apache. . . . 39
..... ................................ .......... ..................................... ............
Mozilla . . 39
..................... ................................................................ ............
OpenfOifc.e . .39
. ......................................................................... ............ ...
Io<:h:a . . 39
........................... ...................................... ....................................
Sendmail . 39
............................................................................. ...................
Postfix . . . .. . .39
.................. ........ .......................... .... . .............................. .... ...
BIN.D. ..............................4.0. ...................................................................
PHP . . . .. . 40
.................. ................................... .......... ........................ .. .... ....
Per.l .. . .. 40
.... .............................. .. .... .................................. . ........................
iii'
MySLQ . 40
.............. ...................................................................................
Samba . 41
............................................................................................. .......
Zope 41
.......................................................................................................
Chap5t er 42
.............................................................................................................
A Revieowft hAec tuUasle o fF LOSSA rountdh Weo rld 42
. ............................
SomGee nreaClo mmeFnatcsat,nsF d i gu.r.e.s. ..................4.2.. ......................
A RevioefFwL OSiStn h Ien dustWroiralldi sed 44
..........................................
SomMeaj roP reocjItnsti,i atainEvdve nest s 48
................................................
AnO vervoifte hRwee ogniRaelop rts . 51
................................................. .......
Chap6t. e.r. .......................5.4. .................................................................................
FactoCrosn tributtoti hnExegp ansioofnF LOSSi nt hDee velopWionrgl d5 4
..
1L.o wCeors. t. ..............................................5..4... .........................................
2T.h Aen tic-yCP aimrpaa.i..g..n.. ..............5.7. ...............................................
3S.e rciuatnyTd ec hnolIongdiecpael.n .de.n.c.e. ......57. ..................................
Chap7t. e.r. .............................................................6...0.... ......................................
Obstactlote hsExe t ensiUvseeo fF LOSSi nt hDee velopWionrgl d .60
. .......... ..
1F.i na.n.c.ia.l. ...........................................6...0... ............................................
2T.ec hni.c.a.l. ...............................................................6..0.. ..........................
3O.v erPaollllia tniSdco iacaIls s.u.e.s. .................6..1.. ................................ ...
Buerauc..r.a.cy. ..............................................6...1... ....................................
Corru.p.ti.o.n. ..................................................6..2... .................................
BraDirna .i.n. ...................6.4. ....................................................................
PoliFtriecea.dlo. m.s. .................................................6..4... .........................
LegFarla me.w.or.k. ................................................6..5... ...........................
ConcluasnRideo cmnomse nda.t.i.on.s.. .......................6..6. .....................................
Conclusion.s: . 66
....... .................................. ......................................................
Demcorati.z.a.t.i.o.n ..............6.6. ...............................................................
EducaatniRdoe nse .a.r.c.h.. ...................6.7. ...............................................
Allevioafpt oivoen.r .t.y. .........................................6..7.. ......................... ....
Reduciconngf .l.i.c.ts. ...............6.8. ............................................................
Enhancing i.n.d..e..p..e..n...d..e..n...c..e.. .................6..8.. ........................ ...
Meetiinntge rnoabtliiogn.aa.tl.i .o.ns. ..............6..8.. ............................... ....
Recommendations: . . .. . 68
............................ .......... .......................... .. .............. .......
ConfereanncdeS se minaArtst ended: .. 70
.................................. .. ...........................
Bibliography . . . 71
.................. ................. ............................................ ....................
AcronymGsl,o ssaTreyr,m s . . . 73
............ ........................... ............. .........................
Acknowledgements
Thimso dessttuw doyu nlodht a vbee epno sswiibtlhaeop uats siaonnda taec tive
particainpsdau tpipooofCnr e ts Barro Fdr,e dNroircoknN hiac,o CToiemtoz ee,
MieloJnuehRnae, kl oaa,nT der Vea deInt .h aanloklft hefrmo mt hbeo ttoofmm y
heairnmt a,k itnhsgit su ad yfj ubon.
Myt haanlkgssoo Gtaor etfhi tfGhorcsrio frremcy't iSinngglt ios hm'y;K ubnoos s
OhrmaaHtna nkfeoanrl lionmwgea f rweoerrsk c hetdou lwmeieyS,f u saDnanhel gren
focro piwintgch o untllaetses- nighste sswaionortdkno is n,smg oy n Cfohra ng
enthsutsliillcayea arLniinnaugttx h aeg oef7 o nh ioslc do mp.u ter
Niraann j
Foreword
FLOSSI,fn oramtiSoonc tiyae ndt hVee rbs
TerVea den
Preosf,sH oyreprmedialab
UnirvseoiTtfaym pere
Thep ossibtihlaFitrt eiee/asLni Odbp reeSn o rucSeot fwa(rFeOL SSo)ffe rs for
delvoepmienn ti nforamncadot mimounn itceacthiyno( onIlsCo, iTg ng)e nearnadl ,
fort hdeee vlopcionugn tirnpi aersta,irh c,a uvrlee cegnatilinyne cdr eaatstienngt ion
anidm portafonlcleo.rw eiTpnhpogerr otve inducerosa geixnagmo ptflh ees F rLoOlSeS
haasl rheaaddcy ao hnra viten h dee voeplicnogu natnrddiee evlso pmceon-toaple ration.
Three afsoorni ntchree aseidss i amtptthlpeeehn :it plihooeysn,co onaonmsdyot fware
delvoepmmeondtoe fFl L OShSa vient hpea 2s0ty eaorrss o maanid nee radicable
impoacnht o iw nformatteicohnnio cslo ongcye ptuusaealdnid dse levodep,Se idn.c e
FLOSdSo neosr te olny concienpttesl pllreiockptoeeurc ra otlpy y rbiurgtah ttoh ne r
concoefvp otlstu ancroy- aotpieaornnd co(p"ycrloiepgftyhtut r anreodu nihdta" s) ,
beena ass nei ednet aofolor lb ridgisnoag-l cltehded idviigWdihetahsata.l ms a daen
evesnt roinmgperre osns isoronem see ahracbshe eernsf attchhteia ntt hcea osfe
FLOSfuSna nd ethtiotc rsa hvsaeenlied nhm a nadtl, e apsator tft hwea yT.h e
devoepleorfFs L OStShh,ea ckoeftre"sns, c rtahteociwhrni tcthh'ia'std,, ow haits
fuInat.p pearisnm otschtaa stteh fsiu scn a bneh ad onlsyot fwiatfrh ehet a hcek ers
arien terienhs atvefuidnnw gi tihfs r aeneod p eTnh.e bacmkogtriovutanhtdai to ns
the hhaacvfkeoee rrn sg aigniF nLgO SdSel voepmceannt, inqdueietde, vbaer ied,
ansdt tihlrele scuolntt rtioab ufrtedeeisls yt rimboudtiafabinlaudebs ,la epb olooelf
gooqdu alsiottfwya.F r oer intshpteha inlcoes,ao npdh ismcooatclii vaalot fti hoen s
FrSeoet fwamroev ementthO epa enSndo r ucmeo vemaernqetu iteer edenivtffe,n
antitahptel taibccuetatshl m,e o vementss hcaarne -satnidwl-hlse ihncta o rmee-sa like
toc reastotifwnatgrh eea xtc ienilt tsse chqnuiaclaIilstt e ieetmshs.ta htki isno dfc o
operiapstr ieocni sely twhdheia gtdi ibtvraioildnt de hgsseiot nfwgas riend eee Tdhse.
quesotwfih oent IhCedTre e vlopimnsee ncte swshaertyih steoh rro buelp dr ioritised
wheinct o mteocs o untthrhaiatev ssee vperroeb wlietmphsr ovifdoirn bgta hsei c
neeodfs tchietiimrza ebyn eds e baItstee dec.ml seh aorw,e tvheiaraft,n d when ICT
delvoepmiesfn,oitr n staap nacoredft,e l voepmecnot-aolp etrhbaeat sicioocnn ,c epts
andda y-tpoar-cdtaoiyfus seisan ngdd e evlopFiLnOgSo Sf fafe or ottihnmaagtby e
usweidt h benefit.
Becatuhbsecae k gurnomdo tivfaotcrir oenaastn iudns giF nLgO SaSrv ea ried, the
argumfeonFrtL sO SaSra el dsiorv seTeh.e rya nfgreot mhp eur etleyc h(niec.agl.
speoefdd e vpemleonste,c uarnipdtr iyv taeccy,h incoialnlod gepeenadosefune sc ee),
tot hdee eply escoiocanploo,ml iiactn,ipd ch aill os(oepp.hrgii.ccc aoel-, o peration,
equya,cl oimtmittmoe nrttih geth okt n o.wT )hissp ectorfau rmg umceanbnte s
strabtyit fhiienadkb iontughtd e ie ffrelnetvo enwl hsi dcihg iintfoarlm ahtaasin o n
impaUcntd.e rlayltilhn degi scuosnsI iCoTan nsid t esfe fcotn t heem erging
informsaoitceitioitsneh f sea tchtba yit tnsa tiufonrrem atidisffei orneft notmm aterial
tihn.Ig snformaabtsitoirnnta h scieets n t shea t ogrsi hvairiningnf go rmdaontesio otn
dimitnhiaesm ho uonfit n formatthtiahotgen i voersr h ahraeFsru. r thetrhmeo re,
reprodaunccdto ipoyonifi n ngf ormcaabtnedi oonnwe i tmhu clhe csosts htat nh e
reprodaunccdto ipoyonifm n agt egroioalTd hse.cs hea ractoeftr hinesa attouifro en s
informcaabtneci aopnt utrhepedh ri"anIs nef orcmaabntef i ro.eAn esa " m eaonfs
produacntedix ocnh ainngfoer,m iadsti ieforfnefr notmm atetrhiiainlntg hsia ctta n
bef raeaser ;e soiunrfocrem,ia nsto i-norni uvsaT.lhr deoi efrfeknitno df" bientgh"a t
inforhmaacsto imopnat roe "dtbi heneog mf"a tetrhiiamnleg asn st hteh astoh fa ring
inforimisain tt oisno tnoo glincaatluu nrleti hkseeh aroimfna gt egroioatdlhsi i:tss h e
seniswneh iicnhf orm"actabinefo" rn e e.
Thne ext olfae rvgeulm enitcsar tyisotinant l hlreia slnelgdy- oicfhr ayc dkoemr:
"Inforwmaasntt tiobo efne r e.I" nformwaatnittoosbn ef rienet hsee ntshea t
informea..tcg ioomnp,us totefwra,a r saet oiomsla dbee titifeit rfs r Tehei.is s the
levoefal r gumtehtnahttOe p eSnor ucmeo vemeemnpth a.Ts hidese evoseplmeonft
gooqdu asliottfwyai rfsea satnemdro reefi fciietfnh steo ucrocdoeeft hseot fwairse
opeann de viefnr ey opoatlielnnyt teirients hcteoe ddie fs r ee to contribute to the
devpemleonAtsa .m eatnoas n e nds,ot fwairbsee dsetlv oepieifdit fs re eT.h se o
calLliendLu aswa',f ttehLreiu nx-haLciknTeuorrsv ailosdf stc,ei nti entdh c iosn text:
"Giveenno hue gyebaalbllusl ag srs eh al.Tl hogewl "osboiacelot hfya ckheatrshs r ough
thien tehranrentei stpssoe oodlfs kialnlds intaed riessttrwsio briukntmi eonddg e l
thhaatps r odsuoctfewdaa rtpe a atc heha ats deefcioendot hmaeilaoclnr c dyo ntinues
tob affcloem pustceire nStotifwsaatrsaset . o moalk beesps rto gwrheesinist fs re e.
Thereifwtoa rntetob s ef rieetg;so aaaslt oioslb et of ree.
Informatioansa m teeacinhsosn,fc o oluourgssyeet od,w asrodmse Tehnueds se.
and ldoepvmeetnetc hoynfi o eslm obgeddperda ciatnni ds ecsu Ilitts u roebsv.i ous
thtaetc hniognle ongeayrn adl infotremcahtynii oonplna o rgtiacrnueol ctau rll tluyr a
neutagr iavlte:yen po ft echynu oslaeon dgde vpemleoanltw faayuvsro osrd iasvufors
diefrfetpnyet ss oiocafalr raenngtIesnmt. hc ea osfFe L OStShp,eo siotfti hoen Free
Sotfwamroev emiefsno tr mutlhartoecudog nhs itdheeern idtnsowg h iscohtf ware
contrFirboutmth veiisspe. ow itnhte, quteobs eat sikaoebndo duietfr femnotd eolfs
usianndgde voeplintgw aisrwsoeh f akti nodsf o cdioetethsyoi rts h maotd perlo mote.
