What is Free and Open Source Software?

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is software which is liberally licensed to grant the right of users to study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code. A worldwide community of FOSS developers contributes to a large pool of software products, ranging from operating systems and server software to user applications such as email, text editors and spreadsheets. Some FOSS examples are the operating system Linux, the Internet browser Firefox, and the office suite Open Office.

• Introductions to Free Software and Open Source Software (Wikipedia).
• General FOSS Introduction Primer, published by the International Open Source Network (IOSN) of UNDP-APDIP: This primer introduces Free/Open Source Software (FOSS), its philosophy, history and benefits/disadvantages of FOSS, including developing-country specific issues. It also contains a brief survey of FOSS initiatives in various governments around the world, legislative or otherwise. Other topics such as localization, licensing and Linux are briefly covered. It is meant as a basic introductory document that can be handed to a person when asked, "what is Free/Open Source?" IOSN offers more Primers on specific FOSS applications, e.g. for government or education, or on issues such as localization, licensing, and open standards.

Why we promote FOSS in the ASEAN region

In supporting FOSS development and applications, it-foss contributes to establish cost-effective, sustainable, and locally adapted ICT infrastructures in the ASEAN region. Also, new FOSS-based business models create opportunities for income generation and economic development.

Several arguments support the promotion of FOSS:

Legality

Experts estimate that in many Southeast Asian countries more than 90% of all software is pirated, i.e. illegally copied proprietary software. Current developments of ratifying international trade agreements have great impact on intellectual property protection, and enforce the adherence to copyright licenses. The liberal FOSS licenses allow for copying, sharing, and modifying of software programmes. FOSS guarantees legality without the need to buy extra software licenses for each computer that runs the copy of a programme.

Cost

As FOSS programmes can be freely shared, users do not incur license fees. One programme can be freely installed on an endless number of computers. While costs for system support and services remain, FOSS still is seen by many experts as a cost-efficient solution, particularly in view of scaling up of ICT solutions and regular software upgrades.

Adaptability + Localization

Southeast Asian software developers can build on already existing FOSS solutions and adapt them to local needs as well as produce FOSS applications in their local languages. One example is the Cambodian FOSS solution in Khmer, which is supported by it-foss. Using FOSS, local software developers neither have to depend on products tailored to foreign requirements, nor have to develop their own software from scratch.

Local Economic Development

Rather than purchasing software abroad, local FOSS development, sales and services keep resources within the local economy, avoid dependencies, and provide opportunities for income generation and employment. Southeast Asian countries can develop their own software market, fostering their own intellectual capacities, and supporting ICT applications in sectors such as government, education, or health.