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Congress Endorses Open Source For Military

Posted by kdawson on from the because-it's-better-that's-why dept.

A draft defense authorizing act in Congress includes wording plugging open source software. It seems both cost and software security were considerations. This is an important victory for open source. "It's rare to see a concept as technical as open-source software in a federal funding bill. But the House's proposed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (H.R. 5658) includes language that calls for military services to consider open-source software when procuring manned or unmanned aerial vehicles."

3 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. Nice to see by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Insightful

    that government is realizing that security through obscurity is not a good plan.

    1. Re:Nice to see by stoolpigeon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      My guess is what you have here is a good indication that some company had enough money to fund a lobbyist to push for this to help them in the future since they use FOSS in their product. Not new insight or greater education on the part of law makers.

      --
      It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  2. Re:Old News by Ohrion · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There was never anything actually preventing Government developers from considering Open Source previously. This will simply remind some Dev Managers that the option exists, even though their actual developers have probably been using it for years. The side effects of this bill will most likely bring out Microsoft's and other proprietary software house's lobbyists out of the woodwork. They've only painted another target.