S. P. T. Krishnan
Institute for Infocomm
Research, donorweb

Contents
• About me 
• Open Source Software (OSS)
– Desktop
– Workstation
– Server / Infrastructure
– High Performance Computing (HPC)
• Case study
– Donorweb.org
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About me
• Senior Research Engineer
– @ Cryptography and Security, I2R
• RHCE of the year 2007, APAC
• PSSA 2004 nominee
• 10+ years experience
– Windows kernel hacking (MS thesis)
– Open source ecosystem (I,D,E) experience
• PhD (part-time), High Performance
Computing
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RHCE, PSSA
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Disclaimers
• Personal view
– Does not represent I2R, or Singapore Red Cross
or donorweb
– Based on personal experience
• Tip of the Ice berg of OSS
– Most useful software
– Least resistance path
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END (NON-TECHNICAL) USER,
DESKTOP
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Common misconceptions
• I have always used Windows
– Why should use Linux ?
• I have only coded in Visual Basic !
– Why learn another language ?
Is Linux tough to learn and use ?
•
Don’t I get a GUI ?
•
What is a shell ?
•
I don’t know where to start
•
Do I have to remove Windows to use Linux ?
•
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Desktop
1. Email
2. Surf
3. Edit
4. Office
5. Chat
6. Image
7. Music
8. Video
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Software developer
WORKSTATION
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Workstation - 1
• Open source language programming
– What is wrong with VB/VC++ programming ?
• Why do I need to program for multiple OS ?
– Platform specific languages limit market size
– OSX is rising, Linux is default OS in many
products
– Smart phones (Nokia sold 10M N95s in 1 year)
– New device form factors (internet tables)
– Open Standards
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Workstation - 2
1. Code
2. Compile
Virtualization
3. Execute
4. Debug
5. Deploy
6. Document
7. Store
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Workstation - 3
• Complete GNU/Linux OS
– Minus raw device access
• Servers
– All software services
(Web, Email, FTP etc)
– Router 
• Share with Friends (In
real time)
• Dual-boot Linux
– Virtualized Windows
– Minor driver issues (still
OK)
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Programming languages – w4
• Windows developer
– VB, VC++, C#, .NET
– Platform specific (-ve)
C, C++, JAVA
•
Perl
•
Python
•
PHP
•
Ruby
•
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Frameworks, IDE – w5
• .NET (Mono)
• Perl
(Catalyst, Maypole
• PHP (CakePHP, Code
igniter, Akelos)
• Python (Django)
• Ruby (Ruby on Rails)
• IDE (eclipse, komodo)
• GUI (GNOME,KDE)
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THE COMPUTING SPECTRUM
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OSS in
INFRASTRUCTURE
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*admin – 1
• OS
• DB engine
• Email
server
• Web server
• App server
• Blog/News
• Forums
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*admin - 2
CMS
•
CRM
•
ERP
•
UTM
•
UC
•
– VOIP
– CHAT
– EPABX
• Directory
• Backup
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*admin - 3
http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Open+Source+VOIP+Software
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CASE STUDY
DONORWEB
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Donorweb – 1
Official Singapore Blood Stock Indicator
•
Official Bloodmobiles list
•
Emergency SMS Gateway
•
R3C (International project)
•
Blog, Forums, Groups, Pledge, Quiz
•
Awards & Recognitions
•
– E-Innovator award from Singapore Government
– PSSA 2004 nomination
– Sponsorships
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Donorweb – II, CORE
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Donorweb – III, Software Stack
7
6
5
4
Cost (S¢)
3
Capacity (MB)
2
1
0
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1 3 4

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