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All of Vietnam's Government Computers To Use Linux, By Fiat

Posted by timothy on from the power-to-the-people dept.

christian.einfeldt writes "The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications has issued an administrative ruling increasing the use of Free Open Source Software products at state agencies, increasing the software's use both in the back office and on the desktop. According to the new rule, 100% of government servers must run Linux by June 30, 2009, and 70% of agencies must use OpenOffice.org, Mozilla Firefox, and Mozilla Thunderbird by the end of 2009. The regulation also sets benchmarks for training and proficiency in the software. Vietnam has a population of 86 million, 4 million larger than that of Germany, and is one of the world's fastest-growing economies."

6 of 380 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Next up! by Tubal-Cain · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I hope they get AIDS.

  2. Well, duh. Communist country, communist software. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Damn right it's flamebait, you got a problem with that?

  3. Who Needs Choices? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    When the self-appointed know-it-alls of the Party apparatus are ready to make them for you?

    How long until Obama The Great Leader decrees all U.S. Government computers will run Ubuntu?

    Can't wait for his first Five Year Plan.

  4. Re:Fiat? by acurtiss · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Fix It Again, Torvald

  5. The best part of it is easily overseen. by Erikderzweite · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    From TFA:

    The instruction also requests that computer traders not sell PCs installed with cracked software, but open source ones.

    Nice! For too long MS has been using pirated software as a dumping tool to capture and hold developing markets. Now at least some vietnamese will know about the alternative (alternative you need to know to work for the government).

  6. I can believe that. by twitter · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    There is a serious cultural issue here that prevents Vietnam from taking advantage of Linux.

    Like a lack of freedom and prosperity? GNU/Linux without the four software freedoms is only technically better than Windows. RMS has warned people about the social damage done by non free software. People who are powerless to make changes are soon demoralized and lose their sense of curiosity and adventure. People who live under autocracies lose many other of man's better nature in order to survive. Free software, free society, you can't really have one without the other.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.