the power of open source and volunteers
06:28, 20 March 2009
.. Posted in techculture and tech to help.. Link
I'll say it again: I'm not a techie. How my computer works is largely a mystery to me. Yet, I'm able to use my computer in what I think most people some really interesting and productive ways -- just as I don't know how a car works, but I can use it to go to some amazing places.
That said, I am also mystified why more people aren't using free and open source tools -- tools I use myself! Free, open source software is software that can be used, modified, copied and redistributed freely, because its authors have decided to give these rights to all users. Quality free, open source software is frequently updated with new features and bug fixes, just as fee-based software is, with an army of passionate developers and testers behind it, all dedicated to making the tool meet all needs. It's as easy to use as any proprietary software out there, and has just as small or large a learning curve to use. The reasons people don't use it, it seems to me, is that
- they don't know about it,
- if they know about it, they think it's too good to be true,
- they aren't sure what to use or where to find it, or
- since it often doesn't come already loaded onto whatever computer a person buys, they don't seek it out.
"How much will a Ubuntu Linux CD cost in Pakistan", this student of University of Jamshoro asks me via SMS after a session of exchanging introductory messages, "My friend gave me your number when I asked about that where can I acquire an original CD for an operating system?" she clarifies. She further inquires, "Where can I get a free Ubuntu CD?" to which I reply, "The CD is free to order, will be land mailed to you for free, you can use it for free and after you have benefited from it, pass it on to your friends because it takes around 2-3 weeks to be delivered!" I continue to share, " and it's pretty simple to order, you can visit http://shipit.ubuntu.com, register a free user account and order a server or desktop Linux Operating System Free Ubuntu CD!".Fouad posted this to several online communities, and I am listing some of them here to show the variety of online groups that can be used to talk with others about this subject, as well as to show how you can keep up with Fouad's activities: the Digital Divide Network discussion group (where I saw it), the Pakistan ICT Policy group, bytesforall readers, pakgrid group, Telecom Grid Pakistan Group, nidu_it_policy, the Pakistan Computer Association, and the Ubuntu Pakistan group.
After four years today, nearly half a million Ubuntu Linux CDs have been distributed for free either by http://shipit.ubuntu.com or by volunteers in Pakistan. I know about more than a hundred thousand CDs distributed by Ubuntu volunteers, friends and myself. This is the current scenario of an environment of local demand for adoption and use of Free and Open Source Software FOSS in Pakistan. I used Ubuntu Linux for the first time before taking up the responsibility for evolving its community and the ecosystem for generating a demand and supply system, when I wanted to something other than my copy of Windows Xp... I was to learn to use various other technologies and platforms without the word Windows in them. It was fun, I could run my FOSS solutions on Windows too...
I wanted to share these findings with other people. I did so during my service in the govt. When I left the govt. I brought it to the academic sector and civil society. I grew an affiliation with like minded people and FOSS users all over the world and got a visit to see the amazing things they were doing with their solutions in their countries, both developed and under developed. I thought for a moment, to share the spirit for mutual respect of intellectual property with my local friends and others in my city. I tried to remove bugs from my research work using Ubuntu Linux, today, thousands of my countrymen continue to do so from Karachi to Quetta to Peshawar to Islamabad and of course, in Lahore, I thought you would figure that out already. From I its now about you, us and we. We are a community, we work for each other's continued benefit. We want to help each other keep away from stealing other people's property, prosper with open and inclusive technology, grow together as a nation.
You know about Ubuntu Linux, your family members, your friends and colleagues know about Linux in general, everyone that has installed software on their or someone's computer knows about Linux or even FOSS or Free Software. I can relate to this mindset as a result of evident change. I feel happy that the FOSS platform developed by the old community members of the Debian Linux Distribution and thousands of others under the umbrella of www.Ubuntu.com and www.Launchpad.net is used so much or people know about it to a large extent in the Government, Academia, Civil Society and Private Sectors has reached this level due to our volunteers and people who use it for learning, fun, research, work or business find it useful.
We have visited your offices, we have written stories and case studies about you. We have shared with the world that you are an aspiring and inspiring nation. You are open to intellectual change. You are free to experiment and adopt. Thank you Pakistan for sharing the freedoms of Free and Open Source Software FOSS and by the way don't forget to continue sharing it with your friends and neighbors!
Bravo to the students of the University of Jamshoro in Sindh, Pakistan! Bravo to all of you, that has atleast thought about Linux or FOSS! Welcome to Freedom of Choice, congratulations for accepting change! That's quite a large number of people! Bravo to all the FOSS and Linux Users and Volunteers
