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Open Source in California Government

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the economy-larger-than-most-nations dept.

catfoo writes "California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has recently posted the California Performance Review Report, a 2,500 page plan to overhaul state government and save $32 billion over the next five years. Part of the proposal: Open Source alternatives. Imagine that..."

8 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. The Governator! by mfh · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The Governator should be applauded for his adoption of Open Source in the government. My only question is whether the Open Source solutions will have to be made in California, because it is my understanding that The Governator is against Hollywood productions saving money by filming up north in Canada. I think this is a *great* move to use Open Source in the government because it will help keep everything much more secure and stable than going with expensive closed source anti-solutions. I only wonder if this will mean that Allnold will be moderating his anti-Canadian rhetoric any time soon? A great deal of Open Source comes from Canada.

    --
    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
  2. They could start with the web server... by vondo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Currently running IIS and an average uptime of about three days. See here.

  3. Use what California created... by bsd_usr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    BSD. Yes, California should finally use BSD more than just a research project. Finally put their spent tax money to work for them. That's my opinion.

  4. Nice write-up by meganthom · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I had no idea a government-produced document could be so clear, concise, and easy to follow. If OSS really takes off in California, maybe other states will turn to this justification. I honestly believe that if more lay-people read similar descriptions of open source software, the doors would be opened to Linux users everywhere.

    --
    Live free or die
  5. Re:I Wouldn't Have Thought ... by MemoryDragon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think this is more the austrian mentality Schwarzenegger has been grown up with before he went to California. Have in mind overe here in Austria, after the second world war we had a political climate of talking with each other no matter which party and to try to find solutions out of a problem no matter what lobbyists are behind. That climate has changed the last ten years, but that exactly was the climate you can see with Schwarzenegger, once in the office he started to talk with both parties. I would not say he is a conservative, he is more a free thinker who is on the conservative side.

  6. Re:I Wouldn't Have Thought ... by foidulus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As a democrat, I feel dirty for defending a republican, but..
    Republican != neocon. Traditional republicans are ones who try to eliminate as much waste/pork as possible(McCain is a good example of this type). From what I have seen, Arnold is as well.
    The government of California simply wants the best tools to do it's job at the lowest cost. Open source works for that some of the time, others maybe a proprietary solution is the best bet. It all depends on the circumstances, there are very few "silver bullets" in life. It seems that the study indicates that open source alternitaves may be able to deliver the best functionality/cost(it's certainly not free when you consider all the transition costs etc, but long term they believe it will pay off). The government should be looking at what is in the best interest to the taxpayer.
    The neo-cons are another story however. They are into cutting taxes for people who are a whole lot richer than you and I, and then using your taxes to reward their buddies while you and I, and the americans to follow us will foot the bill. (*cough* Accenture *cough*)
    I am hoping for a rift in the Republican party, and who knows, maybe another W. victory might finally cause that rift, but I don't think it's worth the chance.

  7. On th other hand, there's SC06 by dcuny · · Score: 5, Interesting
    SC06 suggests:
    • The Governor should direct the state Chief Information Officer to obtain copyright and patent protection on the code owned by the state to protect this valuable resource as an intellectual property.
    While it might look like a plan to simply create a code library, the real goal is, of course, to license this valuable intellectual property:
    • Additional income may be generated in later years through copyright and patent license agreements and sales. That revenue cannot be estimated until all state-owned code is identified.

    The whole suggestion is mangling of ideas, where the author treats "copyright" and "patents" as if they were the same thing. Here's my favorite paragraph:

    • Computer application programs over the last few years have evolved into programming languages that are designed to be easily modified to work in various environments. For example, HTML, XML, Java, LINUX and others are written in modular formats that can be connected in different pieces of code to accomplish a variety of functions.In computer terminology, each computer operating system is called a platform and language code that can be used on more than one platform is called "cross platform code."
    Where to begin with that? I hadn't realized that applications had "evolved into programming languages". What "cross platform" code has to do with anything is beyond me.

    They go on to claim that by using a code library - which will only need four librarians to handle all the code in the State:

    • The State Chief Information Officer should issue a directive requiring all departments to follow the standards and submit all code developed to the library
    we'll be able to code faster, cheaper, and stop using contractors:
    • The savings will be generated by eliminating the need for the approximately 120 consultants involved in application development throughout the various state departments.

    Fortunately, we've got a 30 day period for public comment, so folk from California might want to chime in here!

  8. And a built in programming staff to boot . . . by doneWithMyTattoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Imagine all the programming power available through senior projects and grad thesis of the University of California and the California State systems. The state of California has an awesome potential to direct that government specific open source software be created or tailored or reviewed to fit their specific needs.