Open Source Software: Perspectives for Development

The report "Open Source Software: Perspectives for Development" was released at the infoDev Symposium, held in conjunction with the World Summit on an Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva in December 2003. This effort was commissioned by infoDev and The World Bank.

From the Introduction
"The emphasis on openness in open source software [OSS] has fostered the growth of a world-wide community of developers contributing to the evolution and improvement of various software programmes for use in networked servers and desktop systems ranging from operating systems and web servers, to e-mail, word processing and spreadsheets. While such a diffused structure for software development may seem chaotic, this approach is being considered as a more democratic alternative to monolithic single vendor efforts.

Interest in OSS is Likely to Grow
While [information and communication technology, or] ICT priorities will vary among countries, as it increases as a component of a country's development strategy, understanding OSS dynamics should also have more importance. With some discussions becoming quite passionate, decision-makers will have questions about the potential that open source software may offer, where and how it should be used, along with its potential risks.

OSS is Different from Proprietary Software
With OSS, the programming code used to create software solutions is available for inspection, modification, re-use and distribution by others. It is often assumed that open source software is free of charge. While this can be thecase, OSS can be purchased for a fee as well. The concept of free, in this context, emphasizes what can be done with the source code rather than its cost. Because of its collaborative nature, the open source model lends itself to allow participants to be both producers and consumers/users of the software.

OSS Arguments Range from the Technical to the Economic
The OSS topic incorporates the concepts of community, public good, non-commercialism, ecosystems, and issues of intellectual property, copyrights and patents. Underlying much of the discussion is that 'information' in general, and 'software' as a means of delivery is unlike other goods and services. Central to the discussion are the issues of when and if information should be owned versus shared, what is the value of software, and when is it considered a commodity.

Structure of the Report
This report is presented in four parts. Part I: 'Governmental Perspectives on Open Source Software Use' provides selected views, along with a review of governmental initiatives on OSS use. Part II: 'Case Studies in Developing Regions' overviews implementations in Goa, India schools; telecenters in Sao Paulo, Brazil; and OSS adaptation efforts for use within Laos and Tajikistan. Each case presents the needs addressed, the technology used and lessons learned by the project teams. Part III: 'The Current Dynamics of Open Source Software' presents a discussion on capacity development opportunities and varied benefits, selected private sector implementations, support by commercial technology providers and the status of the legal landscape. Part IV: 'Pursuing the Open Source Software Option' presents issues for consideration when implementing OSS solutions, or starting an OSS development project."