One of our pet topics 1), Proprietary vs. Free and Open Source Software, made to a Moodle demo course:
L101. History of Linux and Software Freedom
This interactive, self-paced, self-study Moodle demonstration course introduces you to the basic Unix/Linux jargon and the ideology behind the Free and Open Source Software.
https://moodle.net/?downloadable=1&submitbutton=Search+for+courses
1) https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=279493#p1200873
History of Linux and Software Freedom
Number of replies: 8Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
Thanks for sharing Visvanath
I've come across so many misunderstandings of FOSS. Not enough people know about it and how it works. The most problematic misunderstandings and most frequent questions seem to be over business models and ownership. People outside FOSS communities don't understand how developers, designers, admins, etc. make a living from FOSS. It's simple enough to explain but not explained often enough.
I couldn't find a mention of one of the most important pre-cursor texts for the idea of FOSS licensing and the GPL was The Cathedral and the Bazaar:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/
There's also an hour-long interview with the author, Eric Raymond, here: http://www.econtalk.org/archives/_featuring/eric_raymond/
I hope this helps
Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
I always thought that Eric Raymond managed to make things worse, not better. For me he's way too much of a geek to resonate with 'ordinary' users and decision makers.
That "How to ask questions..." thing (http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html in case you are unfamiliar) is especially irritating and high handed.
Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
Howard
It is a generation conflict. Compare the Newsgroup geeks those days to social media crowd today!
It is a generation conflict. Compare the Newsgroup geeks those days to social media crowd today!
Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
...and I'm in my 50s, which probably puts me firmly in that newsgroup generation but I've never found them anything other than annoying.
Last time I moaned about "Unix Geeks" in these forums I got a ton of abuse
Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
... me too, in the same generation (Usenet, UUCP, pre-Internet ;) ... AFA newsgroups concerned those were the only option for direct and efficient world discussions. My recount is the local saying, "That which doesn't kill you, will make you strong." :-% I recieved my Unix CLI training in als.os.linux.slackware, and still subscribed! Yes, even the same generation tread different paths.
Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
Hi Matt
I know, The Cathedral and the Bazaar was highly influential and IMO paved the way to Open Source. (See the video in Work sheet 3, section C) One can argue whether all the prophecies came true or not, but the fact is that the paper motivated a whole generation.
With that I am at explaining why C&B it is not discussed in my demo course. It is for a newer generation of IT people who make use of FOSS for practical reasons, without ever thinking of the ideology. In addition the course must be very short to keep the interest of a curious non-IT person. Remember, "To learn about some of the features and capabilities of Moodle" is also an objective.
I know, The Cathedral and the Bazaar was highly influential and IMO paved the way to Open Source. (See the video in Work sheet 3, section C) One can argue whether all the prophecies came true or not, but the fact is that the paper motivated a whole generation.
With that I am at explaining why C&B it is not discussed in my demo course. It is for a newer generation of IT people who make use of FOSS for practical reasons, without ever thinking of the ideology. In addition the course must be very short to keep the interest of a curious non-IT person. Remember, "To learn about some of the features and capabilities of Moodle" is also an objective.
Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
Apologies if you've already included it but Richard Stallman (St. Ignutius) gave a TED.com talk about the why's and how's of FOSS:
Free software, free society: Richard Stallman at TEDxGeneva 2014
Re: History of Linux and Software Freedom
Sorry, Matt, to disappoint you again. I have used short clips from RMS' long talks (see Work sheet 2 http://moodle.syndrega.ch/mod/page/view.php?id=245 ). RMS is from an old school of speakers who speak (preach) for hours, but focussed and coherent. (The problem is with the [today's] listener. ;) Anyway, one can like or dislike RMS, but I find this style authentic and prefer to show the highlights. The interested listener can always refer the original.
This particular video, the TED Talk, is the exception. (Possible that the TED people forced RMS to be brief. ;(). I brought it up sometime back in Comparison and Advocacy https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=269349#p1162016.
This particular video, the TED Talk, is the exception. (Possible that the TED people forced RMS to be brief. ;(). I brought it up sometime back in Comparison and Advocacy https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=269349#p1162016.