Amazing Google Summer of Code project ideas for LibreOffice.
Archive for the ‘floss’ Category
LibreOffice GSoC
Posted in floss on 01/04/2011| Leave a Comment »
EPFSUG
Posted in Brussels, European Union, floss, tagged floss on 06/02/2011| Leave a Comment »
Wenn es einen Preis für komische Abkürzungen gibt, dann geht der bestimmt an die EPFSUG (European Parliament Free Software User Group).
European Citizen Initiative powered by Open Source software
Posted in European Union, floss on 15/12/2010| 2 Comments »
The European Parliament wants to ensure that software used for the European Citizen’s Initiative (1 mio signatures for initialising European laws) is open source, adopted today:
Recital (16) The Commission should make available an open-source software incorporating the relevant technical and security features necessary in order to comply with the provisions of this Regulation as regards online collection systems.
…
By …*, the Commission shall set up and thereafter maintain open-source software incorporating the relevant technical and security features necessary for compliance with the provisions of this Regulation regarding the online collection systems. The software shall be made available free of charge.
German CIO caves in on open source
Posted in European Union, floss on 08/10/2010| Leave a Comment »
Interessiert fragte Michael Dell nach der Position der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Informationstechnik zu Open Source und proprietärer Software. Frau Rogall-Grothe schloss einen Eingriff in den Wettbewerb aus. Sie unterstützt aber den Einsatz von Open Source Software in der Bundesverwaltung.
Rough translation
A curious Michael Dell asked about the position of the Federal Government Commissioner for Information Technology on Open Source and proprietary software. Mrs. Rogan-Grothe ruled out an intervention in the competition. However, she supports the use of open source software in the federal administration.
You may wonder why a source code disclosure preference was an “intervention” in competition. Precisely, from an ordoliberal perspective the perfection of competition via governmental procurement is one of the justified interventions of a government in the market. Wait-and-see Laissez-faire leads to suboptimal market allocations, stifles market access and innovation, in this case at the expense of the German citizens and the markets. Inaction also casts serious doubt on the ability to act in our government. After all insufficient source code disclosure endangers the security of a public critical information infrastructure.
Apparently the Bundes CIO keeps a low profile on security concerns:
Auch wird es ein gemeinsames Aktionsprogramm des BMWi und BMI zum Thema Cloud Computing geben. …Dell bietet bereits Cloud Computing für große Unternehmen an und baut auch Private Clouds für sichere Umgebungen.
Also there will be a joint action program of the Federal Ministries of Economics and Interiour on cloud computing. … Dell already offers cloud computing for large enterprises and is also building private clouds for secure environments.
First of all I don’t think it suits the dignity of a public office to endorse the commercial agenda of a vendor in a press release. The mere consideration of a cloud operator from third countries for a critical Federal information infrastructure seems insane unless the Ministry of the Interior believes it is appropriate to grant access to their colleagues from these third countries. I strongly doubt so but you never know. The European Commission for instance even outsources critical parts of their staff selection process to third country operators.
French DIRISI framework contract with Microsoft Ireland
Posted in floss on 28/06/2010| Leave a Comment »
A bit strange that the French make defense contracts for their critical information infrastructure with American companies and surrender their domestic procurement rules. Why doesn’t the President care, asks the MP:
Alors que le Président de la République s’inquiétait, lors de ses voeux au monde de la culture d’une éventuelle position dominante de la société Google, il est surprenant que personne ne s’inquiète de la prédominance de Microsoft depuis quinze ans dans un secteur aussi innovant. Aussi, il lui demande ce qu’il entend faire pour éviter une uniformisation des systèmes d’information.
The ministry fully affirms the current approach and adds:
Ainsi, la première version de cette architecture logicielle est principalement issue de solutions propriétaires et elle tire profit de l’accord-cadre passé avec Microsoft. Mais une autre version, composée sur la base de solutions open source, sera disponible dès 2011 et déployée parallèlement à la première. Les retours d’expérience dont bénéficiera le ministère de la défense sur l’utilisation en parallèle de ces différentes solutions par différentes populations d’utilisateurs éclaireront les décisions à prendre à l’avenir.
How software patent policy affects FOSS motivation and innovation
Posted in floss on 09/06/2010| Leave a Comment »
Thesis of M. Dapp from ETH Zürich:
THE EFFECTS OF SOFTWARE PATENT POLICY ON THE MOTIVATION AND INNOVATION OF FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
IDABC Open Source procurement guide
Posted in European Union, floss, standards on 24/04/2010| Leave a Comment »
OSOR released the IDABC Guideline for Public administrations on Procurement and Open Source Software (2010). The document release was delayed for almost two years.
Other reports are found on the OSOR.eu website.
de Icaza on .NET patents
Posted in floss, Linux on 25/03/2010| Leave a Comment »
ITwire:
Microsoft has shot the .NET ecosystem in the foot because of the constant threat of patent infringement that it has cast on the system, Novell vice-president and Microsoft MVP, Miguel de Icaza, is quoted…
Indeed, it is not about actual risks but platform confidence. That is a real pity because the Microsoft .NET platform overcomes certain limitations of operating systems and offers a path to cross-plattform standardisation.
Sköne Oke 