Open Source Software; A Rough Guide

As a quick thought, I thought I’d best mention Open Source Software, at some point.

The first Mac I got – my aging and long since gone G4 – I got second hand, and came with a then current copy of Ubuntu Linux, possibly one of the best known Open-Source operating systems* around.  It was also – for me, as a home user – very easy to use and interact with.

Amazingly, Ubuntu was free; – all I had to pay for was the Mac.

Which surprised me, not being as ‘au fait’ with the various bits and bobs floating around the tech scene, other the past few years.

What I learnt was that open source software is usually given away free, along with the  underlying source code – the program itself.

And, unlike closed source proprietary systems like Mac OS X, or Windoze — which, if I’ve understood what I’ve read of the End User License Agreements, are still technically owned by Apple, or Microsoft, regardless of the fact you own the computer their OS is on — you’re free to give away copies of open source software, or make changes to it, as needed.   You own your copy of an open source operating system, and can happily change it, as needed, and give copies away.   So long as you tell people what you’ve changed, and where you got the original software from, you’re usually ok if I’ve understood things correctly.

Now, there’s pros and cons to to both closed and open source ways of doing things.   And others can take you through that argument, much better than I can.   A very good place to start is at the Free Software Foundation, to give you just one example, or Ubuntu’s home page.   On top of that comedian, author and all round Egghead, Stephen Fry, is rather good at explaining it.   A lot better at it than I am.   I’ve also put a link to the relevant Wikipedia page, here.

But what caught me, and I believe will get the attention of anyone else on a budget, is the word ‘FREE’.

The various open source projects out there don’t want money from you, in other words.   (Although many of them will politely ask for a small, optional donation, though)

It’s not just operating systems, either.   There’s other open source software, too.   Web-browsers, games, office suites, email clients, media players, the list is endless.

I could go on!

But let me cut to the chase, and give you some links to the more popular and better known pieces of open-source stuff.   I’ve already included a link to Ubuntu, earlier.

You can download the Firefox web-browser here.   The security and privacy features on it are very good.

You can download OpenOffice.org from here.   (It’s a seriously good, and free alternative to MS Office.   Although I’d recommend my fellow Mac user’s to look at NeoOffice, from here, as I’ve found it to be a touch faster and more responsive.)

And you can download the open source media player, vlc, from here.   I tend to use iTunes for most of my music – the playlists functions are better organized, I find – but, for watching video, vlc can handle a lot more formats, and can transcode beautifully.

If you’d like to have a look at others, check out Sourceforge, the directory of open source projects, here.

Now, I love the stuff I can do with me Mac Mini, and I’m hoping to be able to pick a copy of iWork, when my finances allow.

But I will urge all of us on a budget to look at open source projects,  first.

There is a recession on.

And I don’t like spending money, unless I have to, either.

*   Just so you know, an operating system – like Mac OS X, whatever version of Windoze you happen to use, or the various flavours of GNU/Linuxº doing the rounds – is what lets you interact with your computer.   It lets you Operate your Systemª.   It tells the computer what to do when you press a button on the keyboard, move the mouse around, plug something into a USB port, or click on an on-screen icon.

º   That rather cuddly penguin is called Tux, by the way, and is the Linux logo.   It’s the Linux parallel to the little picassotron OS X smiley, or Windoze flag.

ª   Can you spell ‘Electron’?   Of course you can!   Sorry, I can never resist that!!

The Open Source Rough Guide; Part Two!!

You know, I’ve got to confess, I was chatting to an old school friend called Tim, today, on Facebook, and happened to mention the simple fact I could — legally — get hold of free software.

Tim was — to say the least — mildly gobsmacked.

He’d never heard of the idea.

I don’t think many of us have.

I know that, before coming across Ubuntu Linux for the first time, I’d not heard of open source software, either.

Now I know I’ve written about the subject before, but I also think the subject bears explaining again, for those of us who don’t know about it.

Open source software — things like OpenOffice and the Mac port of it, NeoOffice — are bits of software that are usually developed by volunteers, and usually handed out for free; at least, the developers will ask for a minimal (optional) donation.

Open source source software is also usually handed out under various versions of what’s called the General Public License; if I’ve understood the implications of it correctly, it means you can freely hand out copies of the software, and can happily make changes to it — so long as you tell people what changes you’ve made, where you can get the original, and give them a copy of the GPL the software came with.

(Where a lot of of developer’s make their money is making the various extras and plug-ins; little bits of extra code that make add bits of extra functionality to a given piece of software.)

There’s a couple of other things to mention about open source software.

Most popular software — things like Mac OS X, Windoze, Microsoft Office, iTunes, what have you — are what’s called closed source software. In other words, the likes of you and I can’t get to the underlying code, to make changes to it.

Partly, that’s a security thing; people like Microsoft, Apple and others have the responsibility to not let people grab your details, through their software, so try and keep very tight control of it prevent malicious hackers doing so.

Something else people forget is simply that Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, et al, also own the copyright to their software.

In point of fact, it’s I was explaining to Denny, when I was helping him install Ubuntu on his laptop; we own our computers.

But Microsoft and Apple own the operating systems — whatever version of Mac OS X or Windoze you’re using — on them.

Same with other software, as well; media players like Quicktime, or iTunes, office software like MS Office, or creative suites like Adobe’s flagship PhotoShop.

The way I explained it to Denny was simple; we’ve both bought a car, each. And while we own the car — outright — we actually renting the engine.

The big difference between a Mac, and a PC is equally as simple. With a PC, the engine’s designed and built by a different company to the one that made the rest of the car; with a Mac, you’re still renting the engine … but at least the car and it’s engine are designed and built by the same company.

Bit of a better fit, I think …

But I’m digressing.

This shows you one of the other differences between open and closed source software.

Quite simply, you — rather than the developer/s who made it — actually own that software.

Or at least, that copy.

Which always seems to make sense, to me.

Either way, I would urge any one reading this to look for a piece of open source software, before you spend money on ‘real’ software.

Actually, I’m convinced money’s another reason why more people don’t know about the various open source projects out there.

Money.

Or commission, at any rate.

Lets be blunt, if you walk into a shop to buy a computer — and any associated software — the sales staff earn commission on what they sell you.

So they’re not necessary going to want to tell you about free stuff they won’t earn anything from, are they?

At any rate, let’s add a few links, shall we?

Yes, lets!!

Right; now I’ve already mentioned OpenOffice.org, and NeoOffice, haven’t I?

So that’s those out of the way.

But I also pointed Tim towards the open source media player, vlc, and at HandBrake, the open source dvd ripper, as well. HandBrake is very good at copying dvds to computer hard drives, and vlc will play ’em, whatever format you happen to want to watch them in.

On top of that, open source web browser, Firefox, is still out there, and generally agreed to be a shade faster than IE. (Personally, I prefer Safari; but while Apple give it away for free, it’s not, strictly speaking, open source.)

Moving rapidly along, the amusing comedy doggie is called Wilbur, and he’s the logo for The GIMP. Or the Gnu Image Manipulation Programme.

Which is a handy, and fairly complete, image manipulation programme.

Before you start casting aspersions, Tim.

And finally, before I forget, there’s also the popular open source operating system, Ubuntu. You can read what I’ve written about it, here.

But I’d suggest — much as I did, back in January — that taken a little time to check out the open source option will pay you.

There is still a recession on, after all!

How to send Spam, and Grab your local council’s Attention …

Yep, it’s dungaree time, again, which, if you read my last post about Brentwood Council, means I’ve been emailing councillors.

Only about open source software, this time …

You can read the relevant letter I sent to the Gazette, here, by the way.   To summarise, I made what I thought was a good basic point, that many open source projects are free, and can be a real saving; – as Bristol City Council, various French government bodies, and Carmarthenshire County Council will be able to tell you.   They’ve all used some of the commercially available open source, which are usually cheaper than the closed source alternatives, and which are capable of being altered by an organisations in-house IT department, should the need arise. 

But, here, here’s the text of the email I sent to them, and forwarded to Eric Pickles, the local MP.

“Hello.

My name is Paul Downie, and, as you may be aware, I’ve been writing both to the Brentwood Gazette, and on my blog, about the newly approved plans for a cinema, here in Brentwood; something I personally applaud the Council for approving, controversial though it may be.

However, I’m emailing you collectively about another matter.

In the economic circumstances the country faces, today, Brentwood Council obviously has to face the fact that it has to take action to improve the borough’s financial situation; including looking at various cost cutting exercises.   Something I’m sure you’re aware of.

One thing I did mention, in one of my recent letters to the Gazette was the possibility of of using open source software, usually free to home users, and that, in its commercial forms, available at greatly reduced cost to business and public sector users; something that Bristol City Council took advantage of, only a few years ago.   Given, also, that central government has recently decided to put open source products, such as OpenOffice.org, and Firefox on a more equal footing with proprietary software, such as MS Office, I would like to ask whether Brentwood Council will, as the time comes to upgrade its software, will be favouring propriety software, or giving open source software serious consideration.

While I realise that there are other and larger savings the Council could make, I also believe that the £1 million that Bristol City Council saved, in switching to an open source piece of software, will be something that will – in the long run – be equally as beneficially to the people and voters of Brentwood, as the cinema.

Please note, you can read Bristol City’s report on the switch, here, and more recent news about it, here.   You can also read my letter to the Gazette on the subject, here.

Now, while I know that each individual member of Brentwood Council will want to put their individual constituency and committee  first, I also fell that this will be of interest to all of Brentwood.   After all, switching to open source software could save money for all council tax payers in Brentwood.   And that is no bad thing.”

And here’s the opening part of the email I sent to Eric Pickles, Brentwood’s local MP.

“Dear Mr Pickles, 

I’ve written to all of Brentwood Council’s councillors, today, regarding Brentwood Council’s uptake of open source software; – a cost saving measure that I fell will benefit the people of this town.

In that regard, I’d like to have your views on this, both as the MP for Brentwood and as Conservative party chairman; more specifically, whether you think this is something that could be adopted, both at a local, county, and national level.

To that end, I’ve included the text of the email I sent, below, and a link to my blog, where I’ve also written about the subject.”

Now I now there is tons I don’t about the subject.   I know I’m probably not the best person to talk, or talk to, about it.

But it seems sensible to me, given the little I know, for governments, local or otherwise, to at least look at a more cost effective measure.   One that can also be tinkered with, in house, if something goes wrong.

But in case you’d like to ask your local councillor, yourself, here’s the email addresses for each of Brentwood’s councillors.   The only ones not here are the ones who haven’t registered with Brentwood Council’s site for one.   And, for those outside Brentwood, if your local council is anything like mine, it should have your local councillor’s email address on its Contact section.

Reg Straw

Brentwood North

reg.straw@brentwood.gov.uk

David Kendall

Pilgrims Hatch

david.kendall@brentwood.gov.uk

David Minns

Brentwood South

david.minns@brentwood.gov.uk

Ann Coe

South Weald

ann.coe@brentwood.gov.uk

Keith Sparling

Brizes and Doddinghurst

keith.sparling@brentwood.gov.uk

Lionel Lee

Shenfield

lionel.lee@brentwood.gov.uk

Richard Harrison

Ingatestone, Fryerning and Mountnessing

richard.harrison@brentwood.gov.uk

Janet Pound

Warley

jan.pound@brentwood.gov.uk

Karen Sheehan

Brentwood West

karen.sheehan@brentwood.gov.uk

Russell Quirk

Brentwood North

russell.quirk@brentwood.gov.uk

Roger McCheyne

Brizes and Doddinghusrt

roger.mccheyne@brentwood.gov.uk

Linda Golding

Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon

linda.golding@brentwood.gov.uk

Jean McGinley

jean.mcginley@brentwood.gov.uk

Hutton Central

Keith Parker

Brizes and Doddinghurst;

keith.parker@brentwood.gov.uk

Karen Chilvers

Brentwood West

karen.chilvers@brentwood.gov.uk

Brandon Lewis

Hutton South

lewis@brentwood.gov.uk

Mike Le-Surf

mike.le-surf@brentwood.gov.uk

Phil Baker

Shenfield

phil.baker@brentwood.gov.uk

Michæl Golding

Brentwood South

michael.golding@brentwood.gov.uk

Matthew Aspinall

Pilgrims Hatch

mathew.aspinell@brentwood.gov.uk

Margeret Brehaut

Shenfield

margaret.brehaut@brentwood.gov.uk

Mark Reed

Hutton South

mark.reed@brentwood.gov.uk

William Lloyd

Warley

william.lloyd@brentwood.gov.uk

David Tee

Warley

david.tee@brentwood.gov.uk

Tony Sleep

Ingatestone, Fryening and Mountnessing

tony.sleep@brentwood.gov.uk

Chris Hossack

Hutton East

chris.hossack@brentwood.gov.uk

Madelin Henwood

Tipps Cross

madeline.henwood@brentwood.gov.uk

Ross Carter

Brentwood North

ross.carter@brentwood.gov.uk

Loiuse McKinley

Hutton North

louise.mckinlay@brentwood.gov.uk

Noelle Hones

Ingatestone, Fryerning and Mountnessing

noelle.hones@brentwood.gov.uk

Gordon MacLellan

Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon

gordon.maclellan@brentwood.gov.uk

Roger Keeble

Tipps Cross;

roger.keeble@brentwood.gov.uk

Dudley Payne

Hutton North;

dudley.payne@brentwood.gov.uk

Barry Aspinall

Pilgrims Hatch

barry.aspinell@brentwood.gov.uk

Joan Holmes

Brentwood West

joan.holmes@brentwood.gov.uk

And putting together that lot was fun …

Just to update you, I’ve had replies in from Councillor Joan Holmes, and both Michæl and Linda Golding, that I thought you should know about.   The general consensus from all three was that it was something to look at, and that all three would be letting me know what happens, once they’ve talked to the IT department.   I also know that, a few weeks ago, that George Osbourne, the Tory Shadow Chancellor, announced that central government could save about five percent of central government spending, by using open source software projects.   While I feel he has a point, I feel this is going to get turned into a political football – given that all three are Conservative councillors …