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.gov.au Guide to Open Source Software

Posted by timothy on from the stop-paying-redmond dept.

kieronb writes "The Australian Government Information Management Office has recently released "A Guide to Open Source Software for Australian Government Agencies". Surprisingly, it actually appears to have been written by someone with a clue, and provides quite a balanced overview of what F/OSS is and how it differs to proprietary software. Choice quotes: "Sourcing OSS solutions is a new and less understood area for Government Agencies. As a recult, it often seems to involve higher risk. As open source solutions become more mainstream and agencies gain expertise in evaluating and deploying them, this perception of risk should subside."; "Access to source code is, however, valuable to agencies by virtue of the economic flow-on effects that accrue when multiple vendors offer competing products based on the same technology. Access to source code also reduces the risk of vendor lock-in.""

5 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. About bloody time Australia by __aawfbm2023 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally we don't look like a bunch of flaming drongos.

  2. Government views on F/OSS by nhnfreespirit · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It is good to se that some governemts are actually begining to consider the potential benefits of using F/OSS software. I susspect that this is a trend that will increase dramatically over the next few years. As a few govnernments sets sucessful examples of F/OSS deplyment others will follow!

    Luckily not everybody buys into the FUD.

    - nhnFreespirit

  3. Government Spending by fgl · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Personally, I don't see how any government can in good conscience spend money on a solution, when there is a free, standards based alternative.

    --
    Go Away! Not for Sale
  4. Hang on a sec.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They approved a licence that is not open source and branded it as "open source". Read the following:

    http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/0,2000061733 ,39190311,00.htm

  5. The U.S. government has been using & making OS by HamOpMW · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm sure everyone knows who developed SELinux? Surpise... NSA! The FCC as well has been using at least 4 distos of linux for quite a few years, and not just for their severs either.
    I also know that my local city govenment (Bakersfield, CA) is using Firefox. (although they still leave shortcuts for IE). To further make my point... quit assuming that US govenment agencies are not considering OSS. Even Redmond,WA (until recently) was using linux servers. I would love to know how many MS employees have Firefox on their desktops.
    What other TLA's are using OSS/Linux?