eiidp wrote:
How can we bring some pressure on CSIR to move to Free Software?
May be President Abdul Kalam who is convinced of our movement and having a good influence on CSIR authorities can intervene in this matter. Why don't we prepare and submit a mass petition to President and send its copy to CSIR authorities and related officers
Please visit: http://presidentofindia.nic.in/ NIC runs our President's site on a Microsoft server. NIC uses Apache on some of its servers, and I am sure it could use free software to run the servers that serve our President, knowing well about his open views on the software that is suitable for our country. We also need to request NIC to use free software and also acknowledge its use when used in its sites.
Reg: CSIR http://www.csir.res.in http://www.csir.res.in/infomain.cfm http://www.csir.res.in/csirsite/alldiam/wdiamond.htm
The CSIR is doing valuable serious research, but their work could shine better and reach a wider audience through free software. At infomain.cfm I found that CSIR has authored several software programs. What platforms are they written for? Would it not be better if such scientific software is released to the public as free software? Why are the web designers at CSIR using such heavy graphics and amatuer gimmics that make it difficult to navigate the site? I would expect a rich content at such a site, and the use of heavy graphics that do not present information in a scientific way are inappropriate for a body like CSIR. It is important that we prepare a detailed memorandum and send it to all concerned for action. We will need to send memorandums to the PM also, because he is the President of CSIR.