There’s a large selection of free and open source (FOSS) operating systems available these days, and choosing the right one for any given circumstance can be quite a challenge. This article outlines the key factors you need to consider in order to pick the best operating system for your needs and experience level.
Archives for the ‘Articles’ Category
A Primer on Europe for US-Based Open Source Communities and Vendors
By Sandro Groganz • Jul 30th, 2009 • Category: Articles, FeaturesEurope leads the world in open source adoption and development, so it’s no coincidence that many open source communities and vendors based in the US are interested in reaching across the Atlantic. This article explores the differences between the US and Europe and provides insight about how communities and vendors can bridge the gap to test and develop new markets within Europe.
Go Local, Be Global: Scaling the Mozilla Localization Community
By Seth Bindernagel • Jun 5th, 2009 • Category: ArticlesRemember that “Think Globally, Act Locally” bumper sticker you’ve seen on hybrids and VW buses? The folks over at Mozilla have really taken the message to heart, building participatory local communities around the world. In a continuation of our occasional series on open source community building, we present a case study about scaling the localization community at Mozilla.
Creating FOSS Allies Through Volunteerism
By Christian Einfeldt • May 22nd, 2009 • Category: ArticlesDespite its many benefits, many people are reluctant to try open source – often due to impressions formed early in life. In the first of an occasional series on open source community building and advocacy, we present a case study about how dedicated volunteers can create new open source allies one student and one school at a time.
What Does Oracle’s Buyout of Sun Mean to Open Source?
By Ernest Park • May 1st, 2009 • Category: ArticlesThere’s been a lot of commotion around Oracle’s recent $7.4 billion bid for Sun Microsystems, but what does it really mean to the open source community and Sun’s open source components — especially MySQL? In this article we’ll take a look at some of the possibilities and examine the potential impact of each on the future of open source software.
How to Convince Your Manager to Use Open Source Software
By Stormy Peters • Apr 30th, 2009 • Category: ArticlesDevelopers and IT staff love open source software, but when they try to use open source at work they often find that their manager, or their manager’s manager, has a lot of concerns. In this article we’ll outline strategies you can use to convince your manager to use open source software, along with tips on how to make those strategies effective.
From Policy to Process: Best Practices for Creating an Open Source Governance Process
By Ragavan Srinivasan • Apr 17th, 2009 • Category: ArticlesReady to take your open source policy and put it into practice? This article outlines practical tips based on real-world examples of effective open source governance in action. Don’t worry — we’ll guide you through the questions you’ll need to consider to create a governance process that aligns your organization’s culture, structure, and goals.
Internet Law Part III: Ownership of Copyrights
By Mark Radcliffe • Mar 17th, 2009 • Category: ArticlesRemember those New Year’s resolutions? We know, it happens to us every year as well. There’s always next year. Do yourself a big, huge, legal favor this year and read the final article in our three part series on Internet Law. Seriously, don’t get caught messing with the top four major intellectual property laws in the United States.
More Open Source Alternatives for the Office
By Dru Lavigne • Mar 3rd, 2009 • Category: ArticlesIn the first of our two-part series, Open Source Alternatives for the Office, we examined open source applications that can be used to replace some of the most popular Office 2007 products. In this article, we’ll take a look at open source alternatives to additional Microsoft products commonly used in the office—Publisher, Groove, Visio, and Project.
Best Practices for Creating an Open Source Policy
By Stormy Peters • Feb 25th, 2009 • Category: Articles, HighlightNeed to create an open source policy but unsure of how to get started? You’re not alone, so we compiled this handy guide chock full of best practices for open source software policy writing. Learn how to get started, what to include, and who to invite to the policy writing party. Trust us, we’ve done this before.
