The Softness of Things
Week 6, Open Source

Like all long stories, it is difficult to think of where to begin... My
association with open source software (OSS) began in 1996 at Earlham
College. I spent four years studying computer science, and this
education was based in the utilization and application of open source
software (FreeBSD, Linux and GNU). In 2001 I started working for VA
Linux Japan (the US VA Linux had already folded and went the way of
closed source), where I was able to do something which is even rare
today, more so then, work 100% on Linux/OSS.

During the heydays of OSS, I was honored to meet Bruce Perens, ESR, and
so on. While at VAJ I developed a piece of software called smtpguard,
for a fair sum which was payed for by a telco. I pushed strongly for
that software to be open sourced, as it involved reducing internet spam
at the ISP level, and after 2 years of work, lo and behold IT HAPPENED.

Ten years later, I still use OSS almost exclusively (being at ITP, how
can I avoid OS X?). How do I feel at heart? Probably like an
environmentalist who put her time in at the UN, and barely escaped with
her views intact. I'm not sure if jaded is the right word, but let's
say there are a lot of issues. Open source has become a buzz word. It
is not the answer to the world's problems.

In order to make open source anything work, much less software, the
concentrated effort of people is required. This always seems to be
taken for granted, whether it be in the development, or deployment of
OSS. These people have to be focused, at least on their personal goals,
have a forum to communicate AND BE ACTIVE. This works wonderfully
for software because all relevant data can be transfered and organized
on the internet.

What about other genres? I think the word "open source" is overused and
misused, but the point is to be OPEN. I think the Creative Commons (and
EFF) have done wonders to this end. Open infrastructure, as
Usman writes about, is a wonderful idea. The beauty behind OSS, is that

- anyone can participate
- all materials/schematics are open and available
- forums for discussion and sharing exist
- and are actively utilized

-- Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:25 -0400

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