The document discusses the role of open source software (OSS) in developing nations, particularly in Uganda, emphasizing its potential to reduce costs and foster independence. It highlights both the advantages, such as universal access and customization, and the challenges, including limited support and lack of awareness. Case studies from institutions like Uganda Martyrs University and St. Mary's Secondary School illustrate successful OSS adoption and the need for further education and infrastructure improvements.

1. East African Center for OSS
OPEN YOUR WINDOWS
Reflections on the Use of Free and Open
Source Software for Developing Nations
Prof. Dr. Victor van Reijswoud
Chairman EACOSS
Uganda Martyrs University
victor@eacoss.org / victor@umu.ac.ug
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2. East African Center for OSS
Road map
The role of OSS for Development
Examples of OSS in Uganda
Lessons and Way Forward
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3. East African Center for OSS
Get the terms right
Open Source Software (OSS)
software from which the source code, that means,
the work of the programmer can be seen and
when someone wants, modify it
Free software
software that can be distributed and shared freely
among friends and use throughout the
organization
Proprietary software
Software developed and owned by companies and
being sold or licensed to users at a fee
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4. East African Center for OSS
The starting premises
“A regime built around free diffusion of tools has an
interesting characteristic: the degree to which a
software tool can be utilized and expanded
becomes limited only by the knowledge,
learning, and innovative energy of the potential
users, not by exclusionary property rights,
prices, or the power of countries or
corporations.” (Steven Weber, 2003)
With Open Source Software tools users in the
developing world can become creators in stead
of consumers and can lead the poor to
development
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5. East African Center for OSS
Advantages and benefits
Reduced costs and less dependency on imported
technology and skills
Affordable software for individuals, enterprise and
government
Universal access through mass software roll-out without
costly licensing implications
Access to data without barrier of proprietary software
and data formats
Ability to customize software to local languages and
cultures
Lowered barriers to entry for software businesses
Participation in global network of software development
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6. East African Center for OSS
Disadvantages and drawback
Available support for OSS
not well organized
Finding the appropriate software
no advertising of software
Documentation
idiosyncratic and sometimes nonexistent
Limited best practices
Hardware – software fit
OSS often lags behind concerning new hardware
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7. East African Center for OSS
OSS and Development
Open Source Software has high development
potential
lower costs
independence
increased capacity development
stability and security
Strong push from development organizations
India, China, and Brazil lead the OSS revolution
through their success
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8. East African Center for OSS
License fees and GDP per capita
XP/Office license
country GDP/cap PC's ('000) effective GDP
months
Finland 23,295 2,197 848 0.29
USA 35,277 178,326 560 0.19
Uganda 249 71 18,010 6.13
Source: Gosh 2003
Traditional models for Cost of Ownerships need to
be revisited in the context of the developing world
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9. East African Center for OSS
Conditions for success (SIDA)
- Intellectual property law framework and
enforcement
- Low-cost, widely available Internet access
- Educational infrastructure
- Freedom of information
- English-skilled developers
- Skilled and trainable developer pool
Weakness in one or more of these areas are not a
justification for the adoption of proprietary
software but for improving on the weakness
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10. East African Center for OSS
What is happening on the ground?
Aggressive marketing from large software vendors
Through development organizations/money Africa
has become an emerging market
OSS corporations fail to connect
OSS examples in Africa are few and small size
OSS misses championing projects and people
Governments do not like the concept
Lack of awareness
Lack of prestige
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11. East African Center for OSS
Case study – Uganda Martyrs University
Private Catholic University
80km from Capital city – Kampala
2500 students - 7 faculties
Leader in the ICT innovation in the country
ICT infrastructure main campus
4 computer labs
250 desktop
100 connected laptops
wireless internet connection and WiFi in the making
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12. East African Center for OSS
Case Study – Uganda Martyrs University
OSS was introduced when setting up the mail
system – neomail
Servers were gradually migrated (secretly)
June 2003 – senate decides to bring OSS to the
desktops (OSS policy version 0.1)
Linux (SusE), Open Office, Mozilla....
migration team changed the student computers
new computers get OSS automatically
Migrated about 60% desktop, 90% servers
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13. East African Center for OSS
Experiences – Migration UMU
Selection of software alternatives
Knoppix, SuSE
Technical difficulties
hardware and software
Resistance
students and staff
Success/Failure?
University project has attracted a lot of attention
and new projects
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14. East African Center for OSS
Case study – St Mary's Secondary School
Government (public) secondary school
Day and boarding facilities
'O' and 'A' level
450 students and 34 teaching staff
No computers facilities
Fees €100 boarding - €40 day per term
No expertise in the computing area
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15. East African Center for OSS
Case study – St. Mary's Secondary School
Computer facilities are important for the status of
the school
Collaboration between ChangeIT and UMU
Lab with 35 computers
Running Kubuntu
Internet access (dish)
Remote maintenance
Internet cafe for income
Full implementation in August 2005
Through standardization a model project for other
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16. East African Center for OSS
St. Mary's Pride
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17. East African Center for OSS
EACOSS
East African Center for Open Source Software
Started September 2004 to share the knowledge
gained from the UMU migration
Goal to promote the use of Free and Open Source
Software (OSS) by all organizations
Services:
training
certification
advocacy
consultancy
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18. East African Center for OSS
Is Africa Ready for OSS?
- Education and skills development needs
strengthening
- English language training needs to be
encouraged
- Intellectual property needs to be enforced
- The price of Internet access needs to be
regulated and investment in infrastructure are
needed
- OSS message needs to be promoted in among
young developers
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19. East African Center for OSS
The Way Forward
Theoretical potential is evident
To get reality:
Appropriate support for developing countries
Closer collaboration with between other OSS
groups (active knowledge exchange)
More lecturing material (start from the basis) and
certification programs
Success stories needed (especially in the
Development Agencies)
Acceptance of the OSS standards in the rest of the
world (or opening up proprietary standards)
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East African Center for OSS
Victor van Reijswoud