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CNBC on Tuesday 10:30pm
by Nagarjuna G. 20 Jan '03

20 Jan '03

CNBC is broadcasting a story on tuesday 10:30pm. I expect the story is about the spread of GNU/Linux. I was also interviewed for this, so I know :-). Nagarjuna

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Ten reasons why NGOs should give Free Software a serious thought...
by Frederick Noronha 20 Jan '03

20 Jan '03

NGOs AND FREE SOFTWARE: A MADE FOR EACH OTHER MATCH? This writer believes that this would be so, because: o If NGOs don't subscribe to the principles of sharing freely, reuse and waste-minimisation, then who will? o If NGOs take the easy way out and end up on the side of a global monopoly, then words and deeds don't match. o 'Freedom' is something NGOs always talk about, in whatever form. In the software world, this is already a reality. The possibility exists; are we ready to take a little extra trouble (the initial learning curve) in opting for it? o Because NGOs need quality, stable software. o Because NGOs are even more talent-rich, resource-poor than most in the Third World. o Because Free Software works out reasonably priced both in the short and long term. o Because Free Software creates local jobs and multiplies local skills. o Because Free Software is transparent enough for you to (i) learn it, if you have the technical background (ii) make custom changes in the manner you wish to, or pay others to do this for you (iii) enable both you and your staff to learn at a much more deeper, rather than superficial level. o Because Free Software is an ethical choice -- not one of convenience. Copyleft 2003, FN If anyone would like to add to the above list, feel free to do so. -- Frederick Noronha Freelance Journalist Goa India 0091.832.2409490/2409783 http://www.bytesforall.org Writing with a difference ... on what makes *the* difference

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Re: [fsug-kochi-discuss] Re: {Arun M] Another world is possible
by gnu＠vsnl.net 20 Jan '03

20 Jan '03

I am afraid you are wrong here. GPL'd software need not be open to any third party. ie, If I sell you a GPL'd software I should give you the source also along with the binary. But I need not give your friend the source of same same software till he purchases it. Thanks. I stand corrected. I quote sec 3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following: * a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or, * b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or, [....] The important point to note is that the first para says "...you also do *one* of the following..". Since the party involved is already distributing source to the customers, (which is (a)), he does not need to do (b). thanks Dileep, for pointing this error out. best regards ramakrishnan

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Another world is possible
by PostgreSQL Server 20 Jan '03

20 Jan '03

Hai friends, During the last week of Dec '02 there was a 'Kerala Sangamam' organized by Kerala chapter of 'World Social Forum' . The main agenda was to create a common platform for the efforts of various groups who works for alternative Keralam, and make them work together for common cause. Ther was very active discussion on Software under GPL and on Modernisation of Goverment Program (MGP) using IT. The meet has come to a conclusion that current IT policy and MGP are not on the correct track. It is also decided to conduct a workshop at Kochi during March '03, on MGP for Keralam and IT policy for Keralam. The targeted output of the workshop is an alternative MGP programm and Alternative IT policy for Keralam. ATPS (Appropriate Technology Promotion Society - Kochi) is entrusted to organise the workshop. The ATPS is trying for maximum participation in the work shop. Prior to this a discussion on this subject can be started on this subject. Here I submit a draft document prepared by me for initiating a discussion on IT policy for Keralam. Regards, Anil-Kanhangad ATPS DISCUSSION PAPER -------------------------------- History of Science & Technology ----------------------------------------------- Almost all technical advances are response to social, economic demands made entirely in earlier times and some times even now by the craftsmen, themselves working over and improving their traditional skills. Science is a later event, which emerges in recognizable form from common social tradition on crafts, only with the beginning of civilisation. These separate streams of technology and science were run apart from each other in earlier age. The conditions of earlier civilisation led to a division of classes, which put scientists in a privileged class while manual craftsmen were only a grade above slaves. This division and its impact on all walks of life condemned science to sterility and techniques to frequent stagnation, while radical advances came only rarely. These occasional advances partially broke down and there was gradual growth in mutual stimulation of scientist and craftsmen. The recent scientific technical transformation by which modern Information Technology has been evolved is results of such a fusion of Science and Technology. Information Technology Revolution -------------------------------------------------- The Information Technology revolution, as any other historical creative process appear as a consequence of great social, economic and political movements. The period of technical scientific advance which gave birth to modern Information Technology is in full swing for above fifty years. Ignoring these historical facts, Information Technology, which is a collection of techniques for gathering, storing and processing of data and its dissemination as information, which is as old as society itself, is being presented as a new discovery by its new pseudo care-takers. By this continuous and vigorous campaign, Information Technology often termed as mere software and computer hardware technology. These new imposed definition has led Information Technology as facilitation for a group of elite classes, which in turn leads for a so called digital divide in the society where people is divided as information rich and information poor. Information Technology and society ---------------------------------------------------- The relation of IT and society are fully reciprocal, just as transformation are produced inside IT by social events, so have social transformation been brought about through the use of IT. These direct or indirect effects operating on the material frame work of society and on the idea by which it is sustained. The easily seen direct changes are taken to be the main result of IT by most people. But indirect effects are for more important. Though initial growth of IT was a product of economic and political factors, once it is established as means of securing economic and political power, its very existence become a factor in social life. So it is very much essential to study the total impact of IT, on society whether it is manifold, direct or indirect . Judging from the appropriate flexibility of IT as any other technological tool, it can be stated as neutral and it is the purpose for which it is used, is making the difference. Following are the major economic and political compulsion behind the rapid growth of modern Information Technology. --Processing large volume of Information generated within a short time of war related operation for strategic advantage of nations and for extending the control of state over its citizen. --The Information processing needed to monitor and control production cost and setting of large surplus of capitalist production in a dispersed market. IT for Sustainable Development ---------------------------------------------- Bright futures that IT brings to human kind have been described by many of its conventional promoters. They name it Information Society where information and scientific knowledge replaces human labour as main productive force. These future is not going to be that bright or may be even disastrous until and unless the big mass, to whom it ultimately affects, whose jobs will be ultimately replaced, has effectively intervened in the process of making information society with a definite intention of bringing a sustainable development where all sorts of inequalities are narrowed down. But, the current growth of Information Technology is a typical example of cart before bull. New innovations rarely match the sustainable development needs and always focus on elite sections. New IT innovations are the result of a fierce war for larger market share by a few trans-national companies. Major impact of this phenomenon are --It effectively hegemonies technology by providing earlier access to new technology only to interested parties. --It limits the production and availability at low technological, low cost options, preferably most profitable one. Appropriate IT Solution --------------------------------- For financially starved but intellectual rich country like India emergence of IT revolution is taken as good news. But harnessing the full potential of IT requires an aggressive and visionary policy frame work and creative planning and wider participation of its people at large. The current white collar jobs which fills the gap of conventional inefficient information system will be made void by extensive use of IT. However with a vibrant vision and action plan the human power can be diverted to the more productive zones where they can contribute more effectively which are newly created with the advent IT. If the peoples participation in implementation of IT is not ensured, the complete benefits will be taken away by section of the society with vested interest. Now, global market for IT is predominantly western. A less developed economy trying to penetrate in the world market of information technology can thus be effectively contained by the market leaders. The strict intellectual property rights law in some developed countries are already threatening the new innovation in IT sector. Unless one can design an IT solution truly needed for the social and cultural milieu, it may be impossible to develop systems that satisfy the sustainable development needs. It is therefor very much essential to develop our own methodology and techniques in providing IT solution for social needs. Compared to other activities of IT software, hardware and infrastructure cost seems to be at higher level, while its local expertise remains low. However, cost effective solutions such as localy assembled hardware and relatively higher bandwidth of Wireless Local Loop (WILL) which exactly match the rural network need can be considered. In case of software there is a global movement for cost-effective solutions, popularly known as 'free software' which are distributed under General Public License (GPL). With the use of these software local software expertise will increase and cost of software development will be fully distributed for local employment generation. Closed approach of patented software ultimately cause degradation of our existing software expertise. While use of patented software will take away a huge ammount as software cost and license fees by trans-national companies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prepared by Anil-Kanhangad K V for ATPS

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Re: [fsug-kochi-discuss] Re: {Arun M] Another world is possible
by Dileep M. Kumar 20 Jan '03

20 Jan '03

On Mon, Jan 20, 2003 at 08:27:24AM +0530, Ramakrishnan M wrote: >>>According to GNU GPL section 3(b), you are supposed to distribute >>>the sourcecode to any "third party" who requests your code, since >>>you said you are distributing it to customers. I am afraid you are wrong here. GPL'd software need not be open to any third party. ie, If I sell you a GPL'd software I should give you the source also along with the binary. But I need not give your friend the source of same same software till he purchases it. But of-course you can give the source to your friend. :-) Regards -- .''`. Dileep M. Kumar <dileep(a)kumarayil.net> : :' : http://www.kumarayil.net `. `'` `- Debian GNU/Linux - Choice of the Freedom Lovers

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CDiT and OSSICS
by PostgreSQL Server 18 Jan '03

18 Jan '03

Hai, The CDiT has decided to strengthen its free software expertise. It has signed an MoU with OSS-Kochi for working together to promote free software usage in goverment sector. Regards, Anil, Kanhangad ATPS

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Kannur Science Park
by PostgreSQL Server 18 Jan '03

18 Jan '03

Hai friends, Kannur Science Park ( A project by Kannur District Panchayath) has decided to use free software alone for its science exhibition needs. It has plan to network different schools in Kannur and Kasaragod district. Kannur Science Park would like to provide latest scientifc information to these schools. They have invited suggestion for materialising their ideas. Can any one help Regards, Anil,Kanhangad ATPS

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'Vivara Vicharam'
by PostgreSQL Server 18 Jan '03

18 Jan '03

Hai friends, Please get a copy of 'Vivara Vicharam' published by ATPS(Appropriate Technology Promotion Society, a non-profit making charitable society at Kochi). The magazine mainly focused on free-software. Suggestions are invited for its improvement. Regards, Anil, Kanhangad ATPS

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Goldman Sachs: Fear the Penguin
by Soundara Rajan N.S. 16 Jan '03

16 Jan '03

Goldman Sachs: Fear the Penguin By James Maguire www.NewsFactor.com, Part of the NewsFactor Network January 15, 2003 Goldman Sachs believes that Linux' emergence "will most directly benefit independent PC semiconductor companies (Intel and AMD) and Intel-based server businesses (Dell)." Linux will emerge as the dominant operating system in corporate data centers, according to a new study by Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS). According to the study, IT buyers will use Linux to take advantage of lower-cost, higher-performance Intel-based servers -- and to avoid "premium-priced proprietary systems." Eventually, systems running Linux will displace systems based on Unix and RISC processors. "Many observers confine Linux's enterprise opportunity to the market for low-end 'edge' servers such as file, print, Web, and e-mail servers," the study, entitled "Fear The Penguin," notes. "But we are confident that the technical developments and market forces are in place for it also to become the dominant OS on the higher-end servers of the enterprise data center." Linux-on-Intel Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) research director Josh Walker agreed that Linux is on a path to dominate the data center. "The cost pressures that IT departments are under makes Linux a very compelling purchase," he told NewsFactor. But Walker said he believes that although Linux will displace many high-end systems, it will not replace them all. "There will always be the 20 percent that require the high overhead of better load balancing and fault tolerance" of RISC-based units, he noted. Winners and Losers Goldman Sachs believes that Linux' emergence "will most directly benefit independent PC semiconductor companies (Intel and AMD) and Intel-based server businesses (Dell)." It also will benefit "open" infrastructure software vendors, such as BEA Systems (Nasdaq: BEAS) , BMC Software, Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) and Veritas. Yet the rise of Linux will have a mixed impact on proprietary systems companies like Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) , IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW) , the study says, also claiming that "it may negatively impact overall software pricing." While Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT) is "well on its way to establishing a definitive standard for enterprise Linux," Goldman Sachs acknowledges, "we also believe it is primarily a service provider and that it should be valued as such." Pace of Adoption The study also notes that while many observers expect Linux' emergence to be rapid, it is instead likely to "follow the more measured pace of server hardware upgrade cycles." One important factor slowing adoption will be lagging support from packaged Linux application vendors. On the other hand, "Trends such as server consolidation and wider deployment of J2EE-based computing models could significantly accelerate rates of adoption," the study suggests. Linux vs. Windows Unlike in the server market, Goldman Sachs believes Linux will not win market share from Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) in the desktop market in the near term. Forrester's Walker agreed, saying that "the cost savings [of switching to Linux] would be very high, but companies shy away from that because of the training needed." However, the study notes, Linux will "hamper the movement of Windows into the enterprise data center, an area that Microsoft has only recently begun to target for growth." It will do this by providing an easier migration path from current Unix-based deployments. "This shift will limit Windows' market opportunity in the data center for both its OS and its applications that run on that platform," the study concludes. ***********************************************************************y Posted by N.S. Soundara Rajan, Freelance IT journalist, Columnist "Deccan Herald", Spoken English Teacher and Knowledge networker ...connecting people to people, and people to knowledge

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World e-Governance Standards Committee
by CK Raju 16 Jan '03

16 Jan '03

Birth of another clone of WTO - Going by this report (The Hindu 13/01) it appears that Microsoft, Intel and Sandhill Systems (a proxy ?) are all set to establish a world standards committee (regulatory authority) on e-Governance, first draft to be produced before March 2003. FSF should be taking this message quite seriously, and discussions should start at all national forums to stop this 'cancer' from spreading. Ironically, while these corporates follow the philosophy of 'invisible hand' (unregulated, corrected by markets), most of the times when 'they' fear getting eliminated, 'they' themselves step in to function as a regulatory body. (Views of Samir Amin) CK Raju

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