Free and open source software (FOSS) refers to software that is available for use, modification, and sharing without restriction and often without cost. There are two major philosophies behind FOSS - the Free Software Foundation's focus on freedom and liberty, and the Open Source Initiative's focus on open collaboration and transparency. FOSS provides users the four essential freedoms: to run the program for any purpose, study and change the program, redistribute copies, and improve the program and share improvements with others. FOSS has a long history dating back to the 1980s with projects like GNU and the development of the Linux kernel. It offers significant cost savings over proprietary software and promotes collaboration and innovation through its open development model.

1. An
Introduction
to FOSS
Uditha Bandara
Ambassador – Fedora Project
Infrastructure Team Member – Fedora Project
Manager (Initiatives) - FOSS User Academia
udinnet@fedoraproject.org

2. What is your
favorite FREE
SOFTWARE?

3. What is FOSS?
• What does 'free' mean?
• Does providing source make it Open Source?
• Who makes FOSS? Why do they do it?
• Is FOSS just for fanatics and hobbyists?
• Can you make money with FOSS?
• Does FOSS make for better software?

4. What is FOSS?
Definitions
"Free software" is a matter of liberty, not price. To
understand the concept, you should think of
"free" as in "free speech," not as in "free beer"
- Richard Stallman (FSF)

5. What is FOSS?
Definitions
The word "free" in our name does not refer to price;
it refers to freedom.
• First, the freedom to copy a program and
redistribute it to your neighbors, so that they can
use it as well as you.
•Second, the freedom to change a program, so that
you can control it instead of it controlling you; for
this, the source code must be made available to you
- Free Software Foundation (FSF), Feb 1986

6. The FOSS philosophy
Two major philosophies
• Free Software Foundation
(FSF) philosophy
• Open Source Initiative (OSI)
philosophy

7. The Four Freedoms
• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to
your
needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition
for this.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your
neighbor
(freedom 2).
• The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public,
so that
the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the
source code is
a precondition for this.
- Richard Stallman (FSF)

8. Facets of FOSS
• Some see it as a resource
• Some see it as an ethical choice
• Some see it as a technical choice
• Some see it as the enemy
• Some see it as just another type of software
What is FOSS for you?

9. Small Story…

10. Small Story cont…

11. Small Story cont…
• Open recipe
• No cost for the recipe
• Recipe is licensed under
General Public License
(GPL)
• Anybody can make the
drink, modify and improve.

12. Small Story cont…
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-OpenCola

13. FOSS: A Bit of history

14. FOSS: A Bit of history
Free Software
GNU/Linux Foundation
Netscape
GNU?
Navigator (1998)
Richard Matthew
GNU-GPL
Stallman or “rms”
Open Source
“hacker” culture Initiative

15. The GNU Project
• Announced on September 27, 1983
• Richard Stallman was the founder
• GNU’s Not Unix
• Initiated GNU OS development in January,
1984
• GNU OS’s Kernel gap was filled by the
third party Linux kernel, built by Linus
Torvalds ,1991
Handsome GNU Head
Typical beard
Smart-looking curly horns

16. Is FOSS free?

17. Is FOSS free?
Let us consider it again…
• “free of charge” to a certain degree it is true
,
• But there are non-free FOSS (Free/Open
Source Software)
• Licensing cost may be there
• Open Source
• 99.9% of the time they are cheaper than
proprietary software

18. What is Linux?
• “Linux” was the name of the kernel
created by Linus Torvalds.
• Unix-like Operating System
• Kernel; heart of an Operating System
• Runs on wide variety of hardware
• Nowadays Linux

19. Is Linux FOSS?
• FOSS Kernel (http://www.kernel.org) ,
Licensed under GPL
• Lot of distributions with different
components
• Some components may not be FOSS

20. GNU and Linux
• Misunderstanding between Linux kernel
and “Linux”
• Linus Torvalds didn’t wrote whole “Linux”
• “Linux” is only ~3% of the OS
• Pure Unix-like OS was GNU
• All the “Linux” based distros are modified
versions of GNU

21. Evolution of Linux

22. Strong idea from Small Calculation
Microsoft Solution Software Cost
Software Copies Cost
Kaspersky Antivirus 50 $900
MS Internet Information Server 2 $0
MS Windows Server 2008 5 $19,995
MS Commerce Server 1 $12,333
MS ISA Standard Server 1 $1,499
MS SQL Server 1 $4,999
MS Exchange Standard Server 1 $1,299
Window 7 Professional 50 $14,950
MS Visual Studio 3 $3,237
MS Office 50 $23,950
Adobe Photoshop 2 $1,218
Additional Client Access License 30 $2,010
Total $86,390

23. Strong idea from Small Calculation
FOSS Solution Software Cost
Software Copies Cost
Linux Enterprise Server Distribution (CentOS 6.2) Any # $0
Apache (Web Server) Any # $0
Squid (Proxy Server) Any # $0
MySQL (Database Server) Any # $0
Iptables (Firewall) Any # $0
Sendmail/Postfix (Mail Servers) Any # $0
Qt SDK / GTK + (IDE & FW) Any # $0
GIMP (Graphics) Any # $0
Libre Office Any # $0
OSCommerce (c-Commerce suite) Any # $0
Total $0

24. Software Ecosystem

25. License Categorization

26. Re Licensing
AL LGPL/MPL GPL

27. Advantages of FOSS
• Reduced duplication of effort
• Building upon the work of others
• Better quality control
• Reduced maintenance cost

28. Visit, User &
Learn
http://www.gnu.org
http://www.opensource.org
http://www.kernel.org
http://www.fsf.org

29. Questions?

30. Thank
you!