Linux and Open Source

Bill Kendrick

bill@newbreedsoftware.com

Linux Users' Group of Davis

http://www.lugod.org/

Presented to the Mission Oaks Computer Club

December 11, 2003

What is “Linux?”

A UNIX-like Operating System, created from scratch by developers around the world.

Began as a hobby project by a Finnish University Student in 1991. Now a multi-billion-dollar per year industry.

Capable of running on tiny embedded systems (PDAs, robots, DSL routers) as well as the largest mainframes.

What is “Open Source?”

“Open Source” is a kind of software license (a kind of “End User License Agreement”)

There are a number of different licenses which are certified as “Open Source”
(by the non-profit “Open Source Initiative”)
http://www.opensource.org/

What is “Open Source?”

It doesn't just mean “Access to the source-code”

The license must not restrict anyone from selling or giving away the software

The program must include the source code, and allow distribution

The license must allow for derived works and other modifications to be released under the same license

The license must not discriminate against persons or groups

The license must not discriminate against fields of endeavor (e.g., it cannot say “For educational use only”)

Why choose Open Source?

Open Source is Flexible

The source code is available, so it can be altered to suit your needs.

A program can change in ways the author never intended or dreamed of!

Open Source is Inexpensive

Up front costs for the software are nil!

Because the source is available, anyone can learn how software works, so support can become competitive; and therefore cheap!

Why choose Open Source?

Open Source developers are motivated

Most developers of Open Source are doing it because they have a need or a want to; they are not simply programmer drones at a huge corporation!

Better Security, and fewer bugs!

Accidental (or malicious) bugs are found quickly, since anyone and everyone can examine the code.

Viruses, “spyware,” etc. are almost non-existent!

Actual bugs are fixed quickly, and in the open.

Why choose Open Source?

The code will survive!

While the loss of a major corporate contributor may be a deterrent, it will never mean the death of a piece of Open Source software.

The code will always be out there, since it can always be passed along!

You can contribute!

Even if you cannot help write the software, you can contribute with bug reports, feature requests, etc.

When was the last time you e-mailed someone at Microsoft who works on OfficeXP!?

Why Switch to Linux?

Many are frustrated with bugs, viruses, and crashes.

Others are sick of spyware, pop-up ads, and having their computers hijacked to attack others or send spam.

Some are tired of recurring costs (both new versions of software, and new hardware just to run it!)

Finally, many have major concerns with new licensing that takes away their rights and invades their privacy!

Other Reasons to Use Linux

Linux is a powerful multitasking, multi-user operating system

The underlying OS and tools are separate from the graphical environment (GUI), so it is more well suited as a server. (It can run powerful servers on less powerful hardware.)

It runs web servers, databases, email, print servers, file shares...

Where does Linux run?

Embedded systems

TiVo & entertainment systems

Robots

PDAs / hand held computers

Cellphones

Gateways, server appliances, wireless access points

Point-of-sale systems (cash registers)

Licensing cost for the Linux OS itself is $0.
Compared that to commercial embedded OSes!
(Every dollar counts in this arena!)

For more, see: http://www.linuxdevices.com/

Where does Linux run?

Variety of CPU architectures

“IBM Compatible” PCs

386, 486, 586, Pentium

Next generation PCs

Itanium, AMD64/Opteron

Motorola 68000 / PowerPC

Apple Macintosh, Atari ST, Amiga, etc.

Alpha

ARM

IBM S/390

MIPS

PA-RISC

Sparc

http://www.xs4all.nl/~paulvand/linuxweb/docs/architectures.htm

Where does Linux run?

Giant Mainframes & Clusters

IBM, HP and others sell Linux-based systems

Some make their own large systems out of hundreds, or thousands of commodity systems (clusters)

Users include:

Google (search engine)

Amazon (e-commerce site)

Dreamworks (animated motion pictures)

NASA

National weather service

Other government & military

Where does Linux run?

Thin Clients (and servers)

Linux servers store and run applications, and store all user data

Extremely low-end Linux clients display the applications

Used in K-12 schools and colleges, and some small businesses

Microsoft software seems particularly insecure

November 2002

Internet Explorer bug allowed malicious websites and emails to control PCs. (Example site demonstrated simple “FORMAT A:” command

by simply visiting a web page!)

http://www.jmu.edu/computing/security/info/iehot.shtml

January 2003, Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant, Ohio

Safety monitoring system disabled for 5 hours due to “Slammer” worm

http://securityfocus.com/news/6767

June 2003, Harvard University

Personal correspondence between administrators and the Dean of Faculty at Harvard accidentally leaked due to Windows virus

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=348459

Microsoft is one of many who 'spy' on its own customers

September 2000

Internet Explorer 5.5 tracked default bookmarks by redirecting via an MS server

http://slashdot.org/articles/00/09/13/0023213.shtml

April 2002

Windows XP Search Assistant silently connects to a server at Microsoft

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/24815.html

February 2003

Microsoft Media Player logs users' DVD picks to server at Microsoft

http://www.itworld.com/AppDev/1471/IDG020221mediaplayer/

Windows XP Update extracts info. about PCs and sends it to an MS server

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=7980

Governments Switching to Linux and Open Source!
(Just the latest news...)

Britain's National Health Service considering
(December 2003; http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1101344,00.html)

Brazil leaning away from Microsoft
(November 2003; http://apnews.excite.com/article/20031116/D7URSKHO0.html)

“Vietnam embracing open-source products”
(October 2003; http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/7139304.htm)

Massachusetts mandates open source; locks horns with Microsoft
(October 2003; http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2003/10/19/in_open_source_gain_bay_state_locks_horns_with_microsoft/)

“Israel slams the door on Microsoft”
(October 2003; http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/33365.html)

UK Office of Government Commerce
(October 2003; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3181108.stm)

“Japan, China, Korea may develop Windows replacement”
(August 2003; http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp?type=technologyNews&storyID=3363256)

“City [of Toronto Children's Services Division] rolls out Linux desktop”
(July 2003; http://www.itworldcanada.com/index.cfm/ci_id/46194.htm)

Linux reaches Afghanistan
(July 2003; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3067871.stm)

Not ready for Linux?
Use Open Source anyway!

Countless applications have been released as Open Source

Much is developed specifically for Linux

However, much is either designed with other platforms in mind, or gets 'ported' later!

Some major commercial applications were later released as Open Source software!

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

Mozilla – Web Browser

Netscape code base was released “into the wild”

It is now one of the most standards-compliant browsers

Developers design it to be user-oriented, rather than creating yet another means to serve advertising

AOL now uses Open Source Mozilla project as a basis for commercial Netscape releases!!!

http://www.mozilla.org/

Mozilla Browser

Mozilla Mail
and Usenet News reader

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

OpenOffice.org – Office productivity suite

German “StarOffice” suite was purchased by
Sun Microsystems and released as Open Source

Has a high degree of Microsoft Office compatibility

Can export directly to PDF

Includes integrated Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and Drawing apps

Like AOL/Netscape does with “Mozilla,” Sun now uses OpenOffice.org as a basis for their commercial “StarOffice” product

http://www.openoffice.org/

OpenOffice.org Writer

OpenOffice.org Calc

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

The Gimp – Graphics manipulation software

Originally developed for Linux and Unix by students at UC Berkeley

Handles photo retouching, image composition, image authoring, and file format conversion

Includes layers, filters, full script-ability, batch processing capabilities, and much more!

Often dubbed “a free replacement for PhotoShop”

http://www.gimp.org/

http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/ (For Windows)

The Gimp

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

Flight Gear – Flight simulator

Goals include:

Creating a sophisticated simulation framework for research and academic environments

For development and pursuit of other simulation ideas

And, of course, as an end-user application

http://www.flightgear.org/

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

GCC – The GNU C Compiler

Famous Open Source compilers for C, C++, Java and Fortran

Ported to countless CPU architectures

Capable of cross-compiling between architectures

http://www.mingw.org/ (GCC for Windows)

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

Audacity – Audio editor

Sound record and playback

Import and export, WAV, MP3, AIFF and more

Edit, mix and apply effects to sounds

Additional effects can be added via plug-ins

http://audacity.sf.net/

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

Celestia – Real-time space simulation

Full 3D graphics

Visit the Solar System

Visit hundreds of thousands of stars

http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

Examples of Open Source software you can use TODAY

Tux Paint – Drawing for young children

Easy enough for 3-year-olds

Can be 'locked down' (full-screen display, disable “Quit” and “Print” buttons, etc.)

Translated into over 30 languages

http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/

Get Open Source Software!

GNU Win II
A free software compliation for Windows.
Download any/all programs from the website.
Purchase a CDROM with select titles
http://gnuwin.epfl.ch/

Get Open Source Software!

The Open CD
Another free software compliation for Windows.
Includes only software for a broad audience, which has been thoroughly tested.
http://www.theopencd.org/

Get Linux
(No-commitment!)

Knoppix - “Live CD” of Linux

NOT an install disc.

Doesn't place Linux on your hard disk...

Runs completely from CDROM!

When you're done, shut down and remove the disc; reboot and you're back in Windows!

Known for it's ability to detect
most hardware peripherals
without any configuration!

Sometimes used as an “emergency”
boot disc to recover a dead Linux or
Windows system! (Even for forensics!)

http://www.knoppix.org/

William Kendrick

2003-12-08T01:41:16