fluxcoil wiki

• OpenSource is a development concept for software. The idea is to have source code for software freely available, for everybody to read and improve. A license is attached which is guiding rules, for example if changes to the software need to become public again, or not.
• OpenSource projects for many areas of software exist:
  • operating systems, for example GNU/Linux or NetBSD
  • office suites, like Libreoffice
  • image edit software: gimp
  • video chat software: jits, big blue button

When children bring their own devices to school (BYOD), security is important.

• The security of OpenSource software is widely disputed. A bit different to proprietary software: with OpenSource, everybody can see the source code, making it easier to spot issues. Spotted issues can then be exploited. As issues are easier to spot, and many eyes of developers are on the software, chances are also higher to directly fix these issues.
• It should be noted that a majority of internet services is provided based on OpenSource, like Linux, OpenSource web servers, and other software. So the evaluation of the companies running these services has resulted in OpenSource being used there.
• Also sensitive software like the German “Corona warn app” or the Japanese “cocoa” are OpenSource.

That depends on your exact use case, it needs to be carefully evaluated.

• With OpenSource, initial cost can be lower than for proprietary software.
• Prop. software might include a right to get support from the vendor, with OpenSource you will ask a community, or buy a support contract from a company to get problems solved.
• Updates: is the Opensource project actively fixing issues? Is the proprietary software vendor doing that?
• Is the OpenSource software harder or easier to use?
• Is it important that the user can trust what the software is doing? Corona-warn-app and Cocoa (the Japanese variant) are OpenSource to increase trust in the software.
• Has the OpenSource software higher or lower hardware requirements? When a Microsoft Windows version was running out of support, the city of Munich would have needed to upgrade much of their hardware, as the new Windows version had higher requirements. Using Linux instead of Windows enabled them to use the older hardware longer, this allowed to save money, and was good for the environment.
• Germany's country “Schlesgwig Holstein” plans to replace Microsoft Office with Libre Office, and Windows with Linux, until end of 2026. That affects 25.000 computers of government workers, including teachers.