Some feedback to Charles Assisi's recent article WAR FOR INDIA'S SOFTWARE SOUL, starting with the positives:
* Charles's consistent interest in IT-for-development issues is to be appreciated. * This argument of Microsoft's eagerness to keep a grip on the Indian developer is an interesting contribution to the debate. * This kind of focus for GNU/Linux would make a whole lot of people sit up and take note. But then....
Some of the problem areas of the article are, to me, the follows:
o Charles uncritically buys some FUD arguments from Microsoft. (Paid employees are called 'evangelists'... there is a hint that FLOSS might *not* actually reduce the cost of software ... the argument that all users of unauthorised software could actually pay for and buy Microsoft products one day... even bogus arguments like the "lack of unity" among GNU/Linux distros are accepted at face value.)
o Nowhere is the issue of freedom -- so important to the programmer, user and indirectly even the businesshouse -- raised in the debate. The reader doesn't get a hint that Free Software is more than just trying to get a cheaper product.
o The term Linux, as has been pointed out, describes only the kernel. Even if it's lengthier, the more appropriate term would be GNU/Linux. This is *not* an issue for 'purists' only.
o Conceptually, there is a mix-up over the term 'free' (which refers to 'freedom' not price, even if price does come down in the bargain).
o This confusion leads to the wrong questions being raised -- "If Linux is a free OS, why are Red Hat and others charging for it?"
o Wrong questions raised -- "If I use Linux, can I still use Word and Excel?" Why would anyone want to? It's like asking, if I wear a kurta, can I wear a shirt? Why would you want to? Maybe, "If I use GNU/Linux, could I do wordprocessing and spreadsheets or access data generated from these?" might be appropriate.
o We're told that "[GNU/]Linux exists" in many prominent institutions. That's not saying much. To what level is applied? Is this significant, marginal, irrelevant? Difficult to get figures perhaps... but it needs to be done.
o "Language fonts for Linux are now available for practically every Indian language..." Wish this were true.
o Some of the examples of India's contribution to GNU/Linux (even if taken from my http://linuxinindia.pitas.com) are not the best of examples... Clearly, lot more work remains on unearthing this aspect.
o Eight-pieces-of-unlicensed-software for every authorised copy, there fore the market size is XXXX... this is very misleading logic. Would every unauthorised copy user go in for an authorised copy of non-free software if charged at current prices?
It's good that this article gives GNU/Linux the attention it deserves (even if it overlooks the GNU contribution). But then, a little sharper focus could have surely helped. The programmer who has build up the product over the years don't get much of a voice too. Clearly, the GNU/Linux impact on Indian business, science, education is far from adequately catalogued. We've got quite some work to be done on this. FN