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Get Listed Free In Gov't Open Source Directory

Posted by michael on from the let-your-fingers-do-the-walking dept.

BanJoota writes "Probably most useful for U.S. people, but sounds like a good deal. The story (at Newsforge) says you can list your Open Source business, non-profit group or Open Source project or whatever for free in a 'Who's Who and Who's Doing What in Open Source' book that's being distributed to government agencies on March 15. The deadline's March 1, so better act fast." Newsforge and Slashdot are both part of OSDN. Remember to keep your write-up suitable for pointy-headed managers...

40 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. What a convenient guide! by Attaturk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The tin-foil hat brigade may want to bear in mind that Ashcroft, Tenet, Rumsfeld etc. may also take an interest in "Who's Who and Who's Doing What in Open Source" ;-)

    1. Re:What a convenient guide! by irokitt · · Score: 4, Funny

      "This Stallman guy appears to be a Red agitator..."

      --
      If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.
    2. Re:What a convenient guide! by (1337)+God · · Score: 5, Informative

      That's not true. Read my other post attached to this Slashdot posting to learn more.

      There needs to be a list so that there's an instant point of contact for quality assurance purposes.

      If a software project that the government is interested in can routinely keep the dialogue with the government open, then the government can more appropriately and usefully utilize these Open Source software tools for their purposes.

      It's a win/win situation, really. If you think the government has any "evil" plans, think again. This is the best for all of us.

      --

      Background: 28/M/Bi-Sexual; Owner of a Linux company; MBA Harvard 2003; B.S. Comp Sci MIT 2000
    3. Re:What a convenient guide! by AhBeeDoi · · Score: 4, Interesting
      The tin-foil hat brigade may want to bear in mind that Ashcroft, Tenet, Rumsfeld etc. may also take an interest in "Who's Who and Who's Doing What in Open Source" ;-)

      That's going to be a problem with an open source developer? It's not hard to identify open source projects and their development team members now.

    4. Re:What a convenient guide! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Fuck that, the Government can RTFM like the rest of us have to.

      Seriously!

  2. Progress by Piethon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is interresting for several reasons beyond the obvious; The government is now making information available about open source, which means they know it exists. This information will also get reviewed by government agencies and could possibly lead to more open source adoption by government agencies, which would encourage more people in the population to be exposed to OSS. This also gives some air of credibility to open source, possibly the kind that suits will catch on to it and adopt OSS more.

    1. Re:Progress by poorgeek · · Score: 5, Informative

      What is even more interesting than the fact that they are actually acknowledging open source, is that they are releasing an open source product: Workforce Connections

      --
      Whereever you go, there you are
    2. Re:Progress by smiff · · Score: 4, Insightful
      The government is now making information available about open source

      Who runs egovos.org and what makes you think it's the government? According to whois, the registrant and administrative contact is Tony Stanco (don't know if that's really the same person).

    3. Re:Progress by SuperBanana · · Score: 4, Interesting
      This is interresting for several reasons beyond the obvious; The government is now making information available about open source, which means they know it exists.

      And the not so interesting bit is that it's so typical of the government...doing a job that's already been done. All this information really didn't need publishing. Freshmeat, Sourceforge, linux.com's directory...

      What worries me more is that managers are going to actually go to some of these project websites...let's just say most open-source project people don't have very good marketing skills, or at least never put much effort into their homepages for the "what IS this?" crowd..save the really big/popular projects like Gimp, Gnome, etc. They just don't try to sell themselves. Often times I'd kill just to have had a project that, right up front, detailed is major features and how it compared to what else was out there...

      --
      Please help metamoderate.
  3. I assure you this: Open Source is respected by (1337)+God · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I have an understanding of how government software projects work.

    That said, Open Source is respected. People are always trying to get their hands on the latest and greatest from Apache, Mozilla, etc.

    Keep up the good work. Your efforts are not blind to us.

    --

    Background: 28/M/Bi-Sexual; Owner of a Linux company; MBA Harvard 2003; B.S. Comp Sci MIT 2000
  4. Of course its free! by MrRTFM · · Score: 4, Interesting

    after several government recommendations (US and AU) that departments "should consider an Open Source alternative", they would have had hundreds of angry PHB's saying "WTF - what is Open Sauce? where do I get it? Is this a new version of Windows?"

    So, they *finally* sponsored a directory.

    --
    You can't expect to wield supreme executive power, just because some watery tart threw a sword at you
  5. How can regular people get the book? by PotatoHead · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I am interested in seeing this guide as well. Will it be published beyond the fortune 1000 / govt folks?

    --
    Blogging because I can...
    1. Re:How can regular people get the book? by jay-oh-eee! · · Score: 5, Informative

      "... for use by government IT officials and others looking to incorporate Open Source solutions into their enterprise."

      "Listing in the Reference Book is free, and the book will be distributed at no charge to registered attendees of the Conference."

      I guess you have to attend.

      --
      Photo Aspect -- an open, free, J2EE & JBoss photoalbu
  6. Government & Open Source by ElliotLee · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I thought the government was primary running Windows. Are they going to pay attention to this directory or will it end up going nowhere?

    1. Re:Government & Open Source by i.r.id10t · · Score: 3, Informative

      Don't forget that a lot of F/OSS software runs on windows... http://www.theopencd.org/

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
  7. This has been quiet for a while... by H4x0r+Jim+Duggan · · Score: 5, Informative

    I remember this story from almost a year ago, I tried to get involved a number of times but never got a response. Here's the 10 month old announcement: http://lwn.net/Articles/29364/.

    Now it surfaces again out of the blue ... is something fishy going on with this book? (lack of complete disclosure is irritating) Someone might need to see a 2x4.

    --
    Please help publicise swpat.org - the software patents wiki
  8. How widespread? by frenztech · · Score: 5, Informative

    I wonder how widespread this guide will be. Just a note, the folks who are putting this out are a private group and not the US government itself.

    The National Labs already use a lot of open source software, so it would be great to see more inclusion in other government sectors, maybe saving some tax $$. (Or it will cost more, you can never say ;)

    --
    "Sed Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?" -Juvenal
  9. Old Fogey by Hal+The+Computer · · Score: 4, Funny

    "We see from your dossier you're a Terrorist Mr. Stallman"

    --

    int main(void){int x=01232;while(malloc(x));return x;}
  10. Are you sure? by Whatthehellever · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are you sure you want to be listed in a directory like this? Who knows what SCO could do with such as list.

    --

    ---
    IMHO, of course.
    May the SOURCE be with you.
  11. If I were Fyodor... by stevens · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... I would submit:

    Software name: nmap
    Section: terrorist tools
    Purpose: Enables evildoers to do evil (and OS detection).

    1. Re:If I were Fyodor... by s.d. · · Score: 3, Funny

      Purpose: Enables evildoers to do evil (and OS detection).

      should be...

      Purpose: Hacking the Matrix

  12. It's nice to see the government PROMOTING science by foidulus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With all ya read about how the government is subverting science etc. It's nice to see that the governmnent is promoting open source which will allow it's citizens to get access to the best/cheapest/open technology rather than promoting what the corprate overlords suggest.
    It's also interesting to note that(unlike some other governments) this isn't exactly an endorsement of use for OSS software, but rather a flag telling agencies that it's ok to go ahead with OSS projects you planned, and here are some resources OSS.
    It would be interesting though for the government to fund more OSS projects who have a significant amount of dedicated US citizen contributors, but with the deficits and tax cuts, it's probably a pipe dream.

    Oh well, a step in the right direction anyway.

  13. Write For PHB's And Reference for Engineers by Spanky+Lovesalot · · Score: 5, Insightful
    While it's important to keep the write-up suitable for manager types who want quick overviews, please also remember to include at least references to places where I can find more technical information.

    Sometimes some of my biggest battles in adopting OSS in the gov't/DoD are convincing my fellow engineers. These are old school engineer types who are very scared of change. Even if it sounds reasonable, there better be a damn good reason to change to something new, especially something as "untested" as OSS.

  14. Pointy headed? by hendridm · · Score: 5, Funny

    > Remember to keep your write-up suitable for pointy-headed managers...

    Did Beldar quit his TV repair gig and move up the ranks at Dilbert Co.?

  15. well by Digitus1337 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Last I heard, open source "threatens capitalism". Are we adding ourselves to a black-list?

    1. Re:well by Lord+of+Ironhand · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Different government elements have different goals and motivations, and even though I'm a tinfoil hat-type, I refuse to believe that this is intended as a sort of disguised voluntary blacklist.

      That being said, open source has many enemies, and not all of those have objections against "playing it dirty". Should an open source opponent ever try to associate open source with, say, terrorism, and succeed; it will not exactly help those on this list sleep better.

  16. Yeap and... by KLP-2002 · · Score: 3, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, the government lists YOU in a directory!

    --
    GNAA rocks - cumming to your town soon!
  17. Stallman? it's mozilla I'm worried about! by H4x0r+Jim+Duggan · · Score: 5, Funny

    C'mon, if any of the "free software" communist bloc are "Red agitators", it must be the Mozilla devs.

    The start by adopting a red five-point star as their icon, and then they release a latest and greatest which is named after a Soviet fighter plane (firefox)?

    --
    Please help publicise swpat.org - the software patents wiki
    1. Re:Stallman? it's mozilla I'm worried about! by offpath3 · · Score: 4, Funny
      C'mon, if any of the "free software" communist bloc are "Red agitators", it must be the Mozilla devs.

      Don't you mean "red alligators"? =)

    2. Re:Stallman? it's mozilla I'm worried about! by mcpkaaos · · Score: 4, Funny

      I used Firefox, until that bastard Clint Eastwood broke into my living room and ran off with my laptop.

      --
      It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
    3. Re:Stallman? it's mozilla I'm worried about! by theTerribleRobbo · · Score: 3, Informative

      I see you missed the point.

      It was a joke. The Firefox was an Uber-killy mind-controlled Soviet plane that one of Clint Eastwood's characters stole in some movie or other.

  18. pointy-headed managers? by Mantorp · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was wondering why I haven't seen the Coneheads on SNL lately.

  19. Note to self: by BiggerIsBetter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Don't get involved in strong-encryption anonymous peer-to-peer projects, particularly those with any sort of anti-DMCA capability, within the United States. And if I do this outside the United States, don't then visit the United States.

    --
    Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
  20. Wow.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Posting it 2 hours before the deadline... way to get listed.

  21. This could really make you successful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...in your efforts to get more spam.

  22. It's not just U.S., from the look of it... by FLEB · · Score: 5, Informative

    From http://www.egovos.org/about...

    The Center of Open Source & Government works with governments around the world on Open Source policy and strategy.

    --
    Information wants to be free.
    Entertainment wants to be paid.
    You just want to be cheap.
  23. As always.... by linuxrunner · · Score: 5, Funny

    Story Posted On:
    Sunday February 29, @09:54PM

    Dealine:
    March 1st

    - - - - - - - - -

    Slashdot, your source for timely news.

    And for all you people who only read slashdot at work.... neener neener neener.... :P

    --
    www.slightlycrewed.com - Because aren't we all?
  24. Meanwhile at the conference... by TechnologyX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Daryl McBride stands up with a copy of the book in his hand in front of the conference:
    "As you can see, this is a list of projects that have illegally stolen SCO code and are currently using it to invite terrorism into the US."

    --
    Slashdot sucks
  25. Something's Wrong Here... by attercoppe · · Score: 5, Interesting


    The submission deadline is March 1st...yet the government is going to be distributing these books on March 15th? Of the same year? Can they be that efficient?

    --
    Hardware Geeks Do It With The Covers Off!
  26. Stallman FBI files by 0x0d0a · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Actually, based on reading over old FBI files released under FOIA and seeing the sort of people that the FBI build files on (i.e. just about anyone of note), it wouldn't surprise me if Stallman has a file.

    He stands to be a significant player in the next decade or so in the intellectual property world. He has an impact on politics, and is a rabid idealist.

    I mean, China's pushing for a domestic software industry and relying on much of his work now, right?

    --
    May we never see th