FREE OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

1
FREE OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

• South African Government 2007 policy
• Presented to the E government Learning Network
  Workshop
• By Arno Webb
• Programme Manager SITA Free Open Source Software
  Programme Office
• 20 September 2007

2
Free open source software (FOSS) characteristics

• Source code available
• Free to be used for any purpose
• Free to be changed
• Free to be redistributed
• Enhancements to remain free.

3
History

• Government IT Officers Council got involved in
  2002
• First policy document adopted in 2003
• Need for information dissemination putting
  capacity in position
• Feb 2007 policy largely a reaffirmation/
  reinforcement of the direction proposed in 2003
• SITA FOSS Programme Office (FPO) established Sep
  2007

4
Context

• THE CHALLENGES
• Universal problems such as poverty,
  inter-community conflict and global warming
• are to be solved by partnership between
  government, business, civil society and labour
• and mobilising the skills and commitment of every
  individual.

• TOWARDS SOLUTIONS
• Efficient and effective information systems are
  needed in government and all the other sectors.
• Individuals must have universal access to IT and
  information.
• FOSS CAN HELP TO ACHIEVE THIS!

5
Whats in it for us?

• At national level Economic freedom growth.
• Institutional level Cost-effective, reliable,
  redistributable.
• IT professionals Elegance, reliability,
  effectiveness.
• Users Not immediately obvious. NB Change
  Management

6
The Policy

• The Policy has 5 key points
• Choose FOSS
• Migrate to FOSS
• Develop in FOSS
• Use FOSS/Open Content licensing
• Promote FOSS in South Africa

7
The Policy Statement 1 Choose FOSS

• The South African Government will implement FOSS
  unless proprietary software is demonstrated to be
  significantly superior.
• Whenever the advantages of FOSS and proprietary
  software are comparable FOSS will be implemented
  when choosing software solution for a new
  project.
• Whenever FOSS is not implemented, then reasons
  must be provided in order to justify the
  implementation of proprietary software.

• Choose FOSS
• Migrate to FOSS
• Develop in FOSS
• Use FOSS/Open Content licensing
• Promote FOSS in South Africa

8
The Policy Statement 2 Migrate to FOSS

• Choose FOSS
• Migrate to FOSS
• Develop in FOSS
• Use FOSS/Open Content licensing
• Promote FOSS in South Africa

• The South African Government will migrate
  current proprietary software to FOSS whenever
  comparable software exists.

Where it doesnt exist, development/enhancement
using the FOSS model will be considered.
9
The Policy Statement 3 Develop in FOSS
All new software developed for or by the South
African Government will be based on open
standards, adherent to FOSS principles, and
licensed using a FOSS license where possible.

• Choose FOSS
• Migrate to FOSS
• Develop in FOSS
• Use FOSS/Open Content licensing
• Promote FOSS in South Africa

With the conviction that it will be useful for
other (often underresourced) government
institutions.
10
The Policy Statement 4 Use FOSS/Open Content

• Choose FOSS
• Migrate to FOSS
• Develop in FOSS
• Use FOSS/Open Content licensing
• Promote FOSS in South Africa

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.
Universal access to information is important for
promoting wellbeing and wealth creation. It is
seen as a basic human right.
11
The Policy Statement 5 Promote FOSS in South
Africa

• Choose FOSS
• Migrate to FOSS
• Develop in FOSS
• Use FOSS/Open Content licensing
• Promote FOSS in South Africa

The South African Government will encourage the
use of Open Content and Open Standards within
South Africa.
Government to get its own house in order and
influence other sectors to do the same.
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NEXT STEPS

• 1. Disseminate information within Government
• 2. Initiate trial use and development
• 3. Establish a global position and maintain
  strategic partnerships
• 4. Consult with partners and stakeholders
• 5. Establish and execute a supporting research
  programme
• 6. Consolidate support capacity
• 7. Include FOSS/OC utilisation in short and
  medium-term plans
• 8. Level playing fields
• 9. Develop and execute a supporting
  communications strategy
• 10. Establish and nurture a legislative
  environment that supports the development and use
  of FOSS/OC as envisaged in this policy.

13
FPOs role

• Research, development, testing, piloting.
• Readiness assessment
• Migration support
• Capturing case studies
• Monitoring
• Publicising
• Networking

14
Thank You Q A
ltinsert optional inspirational quote heregt