More On The Open Sourcing Of Iraq

popdookey writes " The BBC's broadcast, The World, has run a piece on the growing Linux movement in Iraq as was previously reported here on Slashdot. 'In Iraq, a group of computer users has started writing open source computer code. They're Linux enthusiasts. The idea is to make low-cost, home-grown software and is said to hold great promise for developing countries. It could leapfrog Iraq into a more competitive future. The World technology reporter Clark Boyd reports.'"

Comments

Nice blurb

[beacher]

It's just nice seeing a linux article (featuring Iraqis ) that doesn't paint Linux users as terrorists. Don't let Didio interview them, she'll spin an article like "Iraqi Terrorists create KJihad which is what we knew all those Linux users were up to anyways. "

Nice blurb. Hope Iraq recovers just to face the same job market as over here. Sorry... Yes, someone already peed in my cornflakes.
-B

Linux report as WMA audio file

[Advocadus Diaboli]

I'd like to listen to that report, but unfortunately I did not yet discover how I am supposed to playback a WMA file (Windows Media Player format) on my Debian box. :-(

Developing countries

[locarecords.com]

It is very interesting to see how developing countries are looking at Linux and other open source software as a means to leap-frog over technological problems and to create their own home-grown technology industries.

I have just got back from a conference in Slovenia at Cyberpipe which was full of Linux and open-source enthusiasts developing software that was situated locally.

And of course, there are also political and economic implications of Linux as it allows countries to avoid the costly licensing problems of Windows etc and also avoid the reliance on the US for closed technologies.

There were some extremely innovative lo-tech hi-tech solutions to problems. For example re-use of old 8080 PCs with Linux installed to control various devices - one in particular was a 12 bank screen for projecting images using old black and white monitors.

Slow going for linux in Iraq

[phreakv6]

Actually its just the opposite that linux today [Wired news] reported few days back. Slow going for linux in Iraq

Re:How fucking dumb can you be?

[mirko]

Much of the development effort behind Linux now comes from USA and code is stored on servers in USA.

• KDE : Trolltech (Norway)
  
• Gnome : Miguel De Icaza (Mexico)
  
• mPlayer : Hungary
  
• Mandrake : France
  
• SuSe : Germany
  

etc.

Re:Now this is proof enough, don't you think?

[Pros_n_Cons]

You mean Iraqi's are now getting tech jobs?
pre-war they had 1 million soldier employed, now they employ what 100,000 soldiers? The economy there is bad for ex killers or skilled labor workers from what I hear, but the tech is booming, doctors, teachers, educated people are seeing double and triple thier old incomes. It's possible this war could change iraq into a technical competitor. Now if only the U.S. could pay our own teachers here triple....

Re:And none if this would have happened...

[Anonymous Coward]

There's an excellent article by Christopher Hitchens over on Slate: Unfairenheit 9/11 which really shows the background behind President Bush's decisions with respect to Iraq, and the tough job he's been up against. The article is a must read. It is unfortunate that so much of the mainstream media has distorted the truth. President Bush is certainly not the villain that some portray him to be.

it's going to take time.

[nabil_IQ]

I was a bit realistic when I said it's going to take between 2 and 5 years t have a solid base to build on. Tons of challenges down there now, security is the bigest issue.

Iraq does have a large technology work force, they lack direction and lack resources. Just so you know, Iraq governement and educational institues been running Unix since the 1970s on mainly ICL mainframes (International Computers Ltd., too bad they are gone now). I personally knew few Unix gurus in Iraq and it's just a matter of time to contact them and show them Linux.

Linux isn't the solution for everything, but I beleive Linux can do a great job in the servers and office desktop environments, home users will still want to play their favorite game or watch some DMCA compliant movies :P. basically Linux can save Iraq (as a governement and/or businesses operate there) large sums of money by implementing it in government and businesses establishments and in educational institues for both server and desktop environments.

again, it's going to take time. So let's stay hopefull.

Re:And none if this would have happened...

[Anonymous Coward]

How many of those justices did George W. Bush appoint?

Re:US Law (from Silicon Valley LUG Open Letter)

[danharan]

The US/UK tag-team also vetoed many other goods. Iraq for example was refused pencils (the graphite can be used to make bombs), paper, ink, chlorine (essential for water purification, but can also be used to make weapons), lightbulbs... the list goes on.

According to the UN, sanctions have killed over a million people in the time they were in place. People like Denis Halliday even quit and called the sanctions genocidal, squarely pointing the finger at the US and the UK.

So I'm not the least bit surprised that they would consider Linux dangerous. Anything that could be considered "dual-use" could be banned- even if they are essentials like chlorine.

What is perhaps more surprising is that a government would keep passing such stupid laws. They won't stop me, e.g., from bringing a Linux distro and encryption packages with me if I go to Cuba. Btw, I live in Canada, so won't face repercussions from the US; I wouldn't recommend this type of behaviour for US citizens as they can decide to give you a hard time.

you're the idiot

[commodoresloat]

if you've been paying any attention at all to anything that has happened in Iraq since their so-called liberation you'd know that most Iraqis want us out and that the longer we stay the stronger more radical forces like al-Sadr get. Even the Washington Post is reporting that the handover is a joke. Most Iraqis recognize the CPA as a puppet of the occupation rather than as an indigenous government. It is spectacularly stupid to put into power a long time exile with open CIA contacts and expect the Iraqis to welcome him as their new leader. The security situation is a nightmare. Like everyone else, I'm glad the thug Saddam is gone too, but what we've left is a power vacuum that is quickly being filled with radical elements on both sides and laying the groundwork for civil war. Meanwhile, US companies are basically looting the country's wealth, doing their best to squeeze every last penny out of the country before the handover becomes official.

I think it's really cool that linux is gaining ground in Iraq, but the grandparent poster is correct -- linux isn't going to stop the the looting, it's not going to solve the security situation, it's not going to work without electricity, and it's not going to bring freedom or stability to a nation teetering on the brink of civil war.