[ILUG-BOM] CPI(M) manifesto calls for promotion of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

[jtd]

On Monday 23 Mar 2009, Kenneth Gonsalves wrote:
> I have now cooled down, so am replying to some points in this mail
>
> On Saturday 21 March 2009 18:09:50 Debayan Banerjee wrote:
> > > I do not give a rf for foss philosophy. State A uses public
> > > money and spends 5
> > > crores developing an application to computerise land records.
> > > It runs on linux
> > > and uses free software tools. State A keeps the software
> > > proprietary. State B,
> > > instead of downloading state A's stuff and spending 50 lakh to
> > > customise it,
> > > spends another 5 crores. Given that there are around 30 states,
> > > calculate.
> >
> > 2 ways of looking at it. 1) These 5 crores go to  software
> > developers like me and my friends, and then we pay tax out of
> > that same money.
>
> here we go - I am on record in saying that one of the biggest
> stumbling blocks to the adoption of FOSS in this country is that
> the FOSS movement here is largely controlled by IT professionals.

Who else do you think should be in "control"? And isnt this true 
everywhere?.

> Most of these guys are terrified of losing their jobs if all
> software was made free. 

That still does not explain why the babu has to decide against FOSS.

> Most of them make a living out of 
> developing proprietary software and selling it as a commodity.
> Software is NOT a commodity. A government that spends 5 crores of
> public money has no right to keep it closed just to benefit you and
> your friends. And you and your friends have no right to make
> another 30 state governments pay you for reinventing the wheel - at
> public expense.
>
> > 2)
> > Inter-state-govt collaboration sucks.
>
> where is the need for inter-state-govt collaboration? If state A
> puts code up for free download, state B has no need to even to be
> on speaking terms with state A to use/modify the said software.
>
> > I think the main reasons why govts do not release code are 1)
> > They dont even know what releasing code is 2) they are not 100%
> > confident of the securtiy implications anyways.
>
> both of those are true - I have experienced it. But more important
> is the fundamental tendency for government to consider the public
> as the enemy, and thus to do their utmost to prevent any - even the
> most harmless - information to 'leak' to the public. And this is
> usually because they need to cover up corruption, goof-ups etc
>
> > There is a disconnect between the tech-guy who does understand
> > all this and is with the govt (Someone like you Kenneth) and the
> > people who make these decisions (like a minster).
>
> ministers do not make these decisions - it is the babu's who do.
> And they are expert at sabotaging any decision made by a minister.
> But, as I said, the real enemy is the IT professional who is scared
> of losing his income if software was freed. My brother is a
> passionate advocate of linux/foss, but his software companies only
> produce proprietary software. His rationale is: 'it's ok for you,
> you do not need to feed your family or meet monthly salary bills,
> so you can afford to release everything you write.'

Your point is that 
1) The IT professional does not advise the government correctly
2) FOSS movement should not be in control of IT pros
3) Corruption is partly responsible for FOSS non adoption

To which i add
4) The few babus who half heartedly venture always hit the 
compatibility with M$ roadblock
5) Tender norms are heavily loaded against FOSS
6) Non visibility (as opposed to availability) of support at ground 
level at time T0
7) Utter lack of understanding of the FOSS biz model at all levels.

>
> Our openstreetmap stall at OSI tech days in Chennai was a huge
> draw. But 90% of the people had the same question: 'If the data is
> free, how do you guys make money?'
>
> --
> regards
> Kenneth Gonsalves
> Associate
> NRC-FOSS
> http://nrcfosshelpline.in/web/



-- 
Rgds
JTD