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Home » Volume 01 Issue 08 September 2009 » Features
FUN with FOSS


By Udaya Shamendra



What Is FOSS


First of all we have to know what the definitions of FOSS are. Do you know?

F.O.S.S is stand for Free and Open Source Software. (Sometimes some call it F.L.O.S.S.-Free/Libre/Open Source Software)

FOSS has a so many stories in its past history and so many contributors for develop that field against the wave of Commercial Software’s from large companies which conquer the software world.

"Strictly notice that Linux is not only FOSS and FOSS has a wide and deep area without Linux. But Linux gave the power to FOSS and today also giving."

Today "FOSS" is dressed in various moods and get more looks except Linux's way. Google, Sun Micro system and Microsoft (the biggest Software share holder in non-FOSS way) are trying to move to the FOSS. Due to the Global Crisis and highly expensiveness of Computer Software may effect that movement.

Why We have to move to FOSS

Because today major Software Companies are trying to introduce strong software license protection constraints in their products.

Free and Open Source Software are legally Free to Use and can be modify and it has open source code.

As a third world country Sri Lanka cannot pay high cost for Software.

Beautiful History (Mid 80's to mid 90's)

1983-The free software movement was launched.

1984-The GNU Project was launched -This project helps to develop complete Unix-like system called GNU System.

GNU's name is a wonderful!! , Because “GNU” is a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix!”

GNU is used with the kernel linux. Because GNU's kernel isn't finish yet. After combining GNU with Linux it called GNU/Linux Operation System.

1984-The GNU Project was launched -This project helps to develop complete Unix-like system called GNU System.

1985-The Free Software Foundation (FSF), started and is the principal organizational sponsor of the GNU Project

1987-Introduced Minix.

1990-Linus B.Toravalds began to make a Minix Clone.

1991-Publish his kernel Project on internet named it as a LINUX.

1994-Release LINUX kernel 1.0 for Public.

1995-Release RedHat Linux.

Four kinds of freedom, for the users of the FOSS

  • 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 to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

Open Source Software / Licenses

Open source software (OSS)-

Is defined as computer software for which the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that meets the Open Source Definition or that is in the public domain.

Free software license / open source licenses -

Apache License, BSD license, GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License, MIT License, Eclipse Public License and Mozilla Public License.


Image- The logo of GNU

OUR OBJECTIVES3

We are going to learn and talk so many things about FOSS and we have some objectives for articles in this session of Magazine

  • Introduction to FOSS (Now, already we know about something)
  • Introduction to Linux
  • Introduction to Major Linux distributions
  • Installing Linux Operating Systems
  • Linux Shell
  • how to use GNU commands and Utilities
  • the Linux file system structure and file management
  • how to create and edit files on Linux
  • inter-system communications

PROMO

Our lessons are also looking to introduce how to enhance the ubuntu and what are the compatibilities and customizations on Linux based Operating Systems. 

This month’s Video 


Linus Torvalds, the creator of the operating system phenomenon Linux, tells the story of how he went from writing code as a graduate student in Helsinki in the early 1990s to becoming an icon for open source software by the end of the decade. This video is recorded September 19, 2001.

Watch this YouTube Video



Next Month FUN



In next month’s diGIT magazine we will look to talk more about FOSS's history and world of Linux.


 

Nice

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 09:24.

Nice and well structured article. Waiting for another episode...

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