Introduction to FOSS

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Introduction to FOSS
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Classes of software

• Operating System (OS)
• Software that manages all the application
  programs in a computer
• Manages the computer resources (memory,
  input/output, processor, storage, pheriperals)
• e.g. Windows, MacOS, Linux, xBSD
• Application
• Software designed for specific function
• talks to the OS to use computer resources
• e.g. Internet browsers, e-mail clients, office
  productivity suite, desktop publishing programs

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Definition

• Open source
• Source code is available for examination
• Source Code
• Consists of the programming statements that are
  created by a programmer with a text editor or a
  visual programming tool and then saved in a file

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What is FOSS?

• Free/Libre Open Source Software
• Are programs whose licenses give users the
  freedom to
• Run the program for any purpose
• Study and modify the program
• Redistribute copies of either original or
  modified version

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FOSS vs. Proprietary Software
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Reference Materials

• FOSS definition
• http//www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
• http//www.opensource.org/docs/ definition.php
• FOS Software
• http//www.sourceforge.net
• http//www.theopencd.org
• http//www.softwarefor.org
• http//www.ngo-in-a-box.org
• http//www.iosn.net/fossatwork/wiki/SMEInABox/