Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software

Introduction to the Philosophy of

Free and Open Source Software

Cédric Sonderegger

[project21] TheAlternative

a students association of
University of Zürich & ETH Zürich
http://les.project21.ch/LinuxDays-Public/FOSS-Philo-FS15.pdf

Tuesday, 02. March 2015

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software

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Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software

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Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software

...
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software

BTW: it's not only about cameras

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software

Your Data?
Your Control?
Your Device?

Haha! :D
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software

0. Let's start at Zero

1. Knowledge, how it works
2. Who programs FOSS, why, and how is it paid?
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
5. And now some Stories
6. You!
7. Finally
Appendix: More Free Models
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero

0. Let's start at Zero

What is Software?
What is Open Source Software?
What is Free Software?
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Software?

Source Code
random code snippet out of my machine here, located in
/usr/src/linux-source-3.16/kernel/time.c
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Software?

Binary File

source code (written by humans)

-> compiler -> binary code ("machine code")
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Open Source Software?

Looking at the Insides

->You may read the source code, it is available

called "OSS"
"opposite" is called closed source software or proprietary software
(exclusive property of someone)
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Free Software?

Now add Freedom to it

-> Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand

the concept, you should think of

"free" as in "free speech", not as in "free beer" .

called "FOSS"
the french word "libre" distinguishes precisely from "gratis"
(german), they are both used in the scene to make the dierence
more clear (e.g. "LibreOce")
"opposite" is called unfree software (which usually also isn't open
source. but "open source only" is also unfree.)
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Free Software?

The four essential freedoms

Free software means the users have the freedom to run, copy,
distribute, study, change and improve the software.
I The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose
(freedom 0).
I The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to
your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a
precondition for this.
I The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your
neighbor (freedom 2).
I The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements to the public, so that the whole community
benets (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a
precondition for this.
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Free Software?

Freeware? Ah yeah, you mean malware.

I freeware has nothing to do with FOSS!

I freeware shouts out loudly the "free beer" aspect
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Free Software?

Licenses: MS EULA
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Free Software?

Copyleft

I virality

I method of using the copyright to do the opposite:

changed / improved software has to be released under a free
license again
I ALL WRONGS REVERSED ;-)
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Free Software?

Licenses: BSD
The modied BSD license
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
0. Let's start at Zero
What is Free Software?

Licenses: GPL

GNU General Public License

the linux kernel and thus the linux kernel in Android
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
1. Knowledge, how it works

1. Knowledge, how it works

Dear Economists: there are Anti-Commons!

More specic
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
1. Knowledge, how it works
Dear Economists: there are Anti-Commons!

The Tragedy

Source: Dr. Matthias Stürmer. Kanton Bern 2.0: Von Social Media über Open Education bis Digital
Literacy. Slideshare.
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
1. Knowledge, how it works
More specic

Examples and Stu

Authors:
programmers are the only authors, which are not allowed to read
each others work

Wikipedia:
the more people read it, the more people write something for it.
classic anticommon.

Science:
on the shoulders of giants ...
(Isaac Newton)
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
2. Who programs FOSS, why, and how is it paid?

2. Who programs FOSS, why, and how is it paid?

THE Prejudice No. 1

The Value Chain of Software
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
2. Who programs FOSS, why, and how is it paid?
THE Prejudice No. 1

Nope!! Not only Nerds in their dark Basements

FOSS is built by people, who ...
I enjoy programming or giving

I want to learn something

I miss a tool they need

I are just ordinary, monthly paid programmers at software

companies like Google, IBM or RedHat (and thousands of
small ones!)
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
2. Who programs FOSS, why, and how is it paid?
The Value Chain of Software

How to make money with Free Software

the only thing you can't do with free software, that you
can do with proprietary software, is selling licenses.
a whole ecosystem with hundreds of possibilities is still left over.

CC BY-SA Dapp, Marcus Manfred. Digital Sustainability in the Knowledge Society.

Yearly lecture at ETH Zurich.
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet

3. A brief History of Software and the Internet

60's - 70's
80's
90's
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
60's - 70's

The early Days

Universities - Unix - Arpanet

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
80's

Richard Stallman

1983: started GNU

e.g.: "compiler", basic tools, but no "core" / "heart"
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
90's

Linus Torvalds

the penguin is called "Tux"

1991: Linus started the "kernel", named it "Linus Unix" -> Linux
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
90's

His famous email that started it all

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
90's

Uhm yeah ...

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
90's

Eric S. Raymond

The Cathedral and the Bazar (1997):

Lessons for creating good open source software
11) The next best thing to having good ideas is recognizing good
ideas from your users. Sometimes the latter is better.
12) Often, the most striking and innovative solutions come from
realizing that your concept of the problem was wrong.
13) Perfection (in design) is achieved not when there is nothing
more to add, but rather when there is nothing more to take away.
(Attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
90's

Linux evolves, becomes Big Business: focus on one

Distribution

I the word "Ubuntu" comes from the Bantu languages of Zulu

and Xhosa, means "humanity", "charity" and "community
spirit", as well as the experience, that one is part of a whole.
I logo: three people holding their hands
I ubuntu linux fully translated to about 50 languages; dozens of
others partially
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
3. A brief History of Software and the Internet
90's

BTW: Mark Shuttleworth

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom

4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom

Market Shares
Countries
Democracy
ETH
UZH
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
Market Shares

Did you know?

FOSS is everywhere
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
Countries

Developping Countries
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
Countries

We already fall behind

All schools in Russia, Brazil use FOSS -> millions of students

come in touch with it.

And of course, China: they don't really love the US and neither
their Silicon Valley. They do FOSS to be their own boss.
(e.g. "Red Flag Linux" (discontinued, don't know the successor)).

And then there is science:

isn't it meant to be reproducible?
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
Democracy

Voting
Voting computers have to run FOSS, otherwise no one can be sure
what they're doing!
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
ETH

ETH

I Develops own FOSS (e.g. "ETH EduApp")

I FOSS Commissioner exists
I fedora Linux on all public computers
(dual boot / besides Windows)
I Neptun (not exactly ETH, but closely connected) oers
computers without OS, and promotes the LinuxDays
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
UZH

Linux as workhorse, of course, but ...

http://www.id.uzh.ch/dl/bs/linux/einsatz.html
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
4. Software on this Planet: the State of Freedom
UZH

... awareness not totally as it should be, especially for a

university (personal opinion!)

I started OLAT as open source project

I switched to closed source it in 2011
I result (as always): openOLAT was "forked" by the community
(and a company)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOLAT
https://web.archive.org/web/20150104161827/http:
//www.openolat.com/open-letter-olat-community/

but: I'm from ETH, I don't know the insides of UZH - so maybe I have
the wrong picture
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories

5. And now some Stories

Dangers of The Cloud

Proprietary Software kills. Regularly.
Privacy
This is acutally a Nightmare!
IoT incoming
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
Dangers of The Cloud

WARNING: Microsoft sends passwords to USA

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
Dangers of The Cloud

Software as a Service

SaaS

Just let everything go ...

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
Dangers of The Cloud

The threat is real

Dr. Widmer is attorney for IT law and lecturer for information

security law at ETHZ. In the lecture, she stated that:
I as an attorney, she can't use Siri and she can't sync her
iPhone to the cloud:
-> it would break mandatory professional secrecy!

I maybe also true for:

I doctors
I tax consultants
I social workers
I insurance sta
I ... !
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
Dangers of The Cloud

Gratis? Your data is the currency

I there is no free lunch

I unless business model is that of FOSS, you must assume that
your personal data is the currency
I facebook paid 40.- francs for YOUR whatsapp account!
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
Proprietary Software kills. Regularly.

Karen Sandler

Unfortunately, her fears are not unfounded. As noted in a paper she wrote in July 2010 for the Software
Freedom Law Center, called Killed by Code: Software Transparency in IMDs, at least 212 deaths
occured from device failures in ve dierent brands of IMDs from 1997 to 2003.
https://www.softwarefreedom.org/resources/2010/transparent-medical-devices.pdf
picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Sandler CC BY-SA 3.0
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
Privacy

The uneducated "I have nothing to hide" phrase

Please, think again what you are saying.

I have nothing to hide ...

I ... but maybe someone has! You help to criminalize them.

I every employer has business secrets: at least customer

information. have that in mind.

I ... and now let me install cameras in your shower, toilet and
bedroom and give me all your PINs and passwords, I will
broadcast them, I'll also send your health records to insurances
and possible employers, oh and I already have nice ideas what
to do with the money on your bank account
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
Privacy

Your Samsung SmartTV is a good Listener

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
This is acutally a Nightmare!

Please wake me up, Franz Kafka

It's become a bizarre world, hasn't it? Personally, I am worried.
Citizenfour - now in swiss cinemas

Do you really understand, what's going on? Or have you

just "heard about it" ...
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
5. And now some Stories
IoT incoming

Internet of things: exponential growth (also of problems)

today (IPv4):
2
32 = 4 294 967 296 ≈ 4.3 x 10
9 addresses

tomorrow (IPv6):
2
128 = 340 282 366 920 938 463 463 374 607 431 768 211 456 ≈ 38
3.4 x 10 addresses

I over the next decades, any one of you will have a lot more
connected "devices": 50? 100? 200? (today: maybe 5 - 10)
I smart homes (all electrical devices coordinate themselves)
I cars talk to each other, drive autonomously
I clothes, shoes, lenses, ear rings are your new "smartphones"

I everything integrated: health / tness info, agenda, communication:

a personal data fountain - companies can't wait for it

I FOSS will not be the solution, but part of it!

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
6. You!

6. You!
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
6. You!

You can fully switch to Linux

by the eort of 1 credit point (=30h)

I think of the credit points you made: did all of them matter
extraordinary for your life? even less than 30h for FOSS will
certainly do!
I how far to go?
I 2h are already done: this course here
I all of the LinuxDays: 3 more courses and the install event
= 4 x 2h
I a cozy helpdesk beer meeting adds another 2h
I actually using your system and actively learning by doing is
hard for the rst hour only, if at all
I recommended lecture:
Digital Sustainability in the Knowledge Society, ETHZ
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
6. You!

TheAlt Linux Days 2015

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
6. You!

The Friendly Helpdesk and Beer Meetings

Suddenly, a problem appears? We are here for you!

Stammtisch Di, 17.3.15 19:00-21:00 Zweistein

Linux-TDB Do, 26.3.15 17:00-22:00 CHN, Grüner Boden

Stammtisch Di, 31.3.15 19:00-21:00 Zweistein

http://linux.thealternative.ch
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
7. Finally

7. Finally
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
7. Finally

BEER! :D

After your questions in this audience, you are welcome to dislocate

to "bQm" with us, if you wish deeper discussion of some questions

Thank you for having listened to us!

http://www.thealternative.ch
images: http://www.bqm-bar.ch - the popular student cultural café at ETHZ
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
7. Finally

About this work

slides at http://les.project21.ch/LinuxDays-Public/FOSS-Philo-FS15.pdf
email us: [email protected]
(or me directly at [email protected])

licensed under CC BY-SA: reuse / remix / recycle it!

just don't forget to publish it under the same license and to add a note about the original author

built with LTEX-beamer and TeXworks under debian GNU/Linux

A

For quickly reloading the free software philosophy somewhen in the

future, you might pick this nice 15' video by RMS:
"Free software, free society: R. Stallman at TEDxGeneva 2014"
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models

Appendix: More Free Models

Open Standards
Open Access
Open Data
Open Hardware
Creative Commons
Net Neutrality
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Open Standards

Compatibility, Sustainability, Usability

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Open Access

Tax Payers don't have to pay multiple times, do they

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Open Data

The Data exists - why not use it?

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Open Hardware

One Laptop per Child

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Open Hardware

Gluglug
The laptops Mr. Stallman used or uses
(oh yeah, ultimate freedom ;-))

I Lemote Yeeloong
I OLPC
I Gluglug?
lemote-yeeloong.jpg originally posted to Flickr by c.j.b at
http://flickr.com/photos/62961837@N00/4538085276 under the terms of the cc-by-2.0
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Open Hardware

Imagine more of this stu! (Cars?)

OLinuXino:

image: Wikipedia user TsvetanUsunov, CC-BY-SA 3.0 unported

Open Source Ecology:

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Creative Commons

Free Culture - the Right to remix!

This is fact: Youtube videos with songs in background are
problematic! And so are complete remixes ;-)
Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Net Neutrality

All bits are equal

I no matter what information it is, it must be transported

equally
I just as with ordinary mail: the post doesn't open letters to
decide how fast to transport them
I massive abuse possible if not properly regulated

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Net Neutrality

Introduction to the Philosophy of Free and Open Source Software
Appendix: More Free Models
Net Neutrality

Historic FCC decision of last Thursday & swiss process

Swiss Senate (Ständerat) is about to decide on it March 16, 2015 -

rst chamber (Nationalrat) agreed on it last year.