Maritime Open Source Success Stories

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Maritime Open Source Success Stories

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Moncton Linux Users Group

• http//monctonlug.sf.net

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What is Open Source Software?

• When programmers on the Internet
• can read, redistribute, and modify the
• source for a piece of software, it evolves.
• People improve it.
• People adapt it.
• People fix bugs.

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What is Open Source Software?

• This rapid evolutionary process
• produces better software than the traditional
  closed model, in which
• only a very few programmers
• can see source and everybody
• else must blindly use an opaque
• block of bits.

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Open Source Advantages

• Flexible
• Powerful
• Reliable
• Low cost

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Open Source sales pitch
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Linux success stories in academia
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Linux in Computer Science programs

• Full-featured development environment
• Free compilers and development tools
• Easy for students to run the same tools at home

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OpenOffice and Mozilla in the lab
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Linux Supercomputers

• Dalhousie math, physics, biology
• Mount Allison - chemistry
• Saint Francis Xavier physics
• UNB civil engineering/computer science
• UPEI - physics

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Computational chemistry
In theoretical chemistry chemists and physicists
together develop algorithms and computer programs
to allow precise predictions of atomic and
molecular properties and/or reaction paths for
chemical reactions. Computational chemists in
contrast mostly "simply" use existing computer
programs and methodologies and apply these to
specific chemical questions. (From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.)
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Charity Non-profit

• Moncton Boys and Girls Club
• The problems
• donated computers
• volunteer computer support
• keeping a student lab running is hard

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Moncton Boys and Girls Club solution

• Linux Terminal Server Project
• http//www.ltsp.org
• LTSP is an add-on package for Linux that allows
  you to connect lots of low-powered thin client
  terminals to a Linux server. Applications
  typically run on the server, and accept input and
  display their output on the thin client display.

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Small Business

• http//www.engtech.ca
  
• Drag Sled a remote sensor package used in
  accident re-construction

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Drag Sled

• embedded software requirements
• store sensor data on HD
• sensor data download mechanism
• management UI
• a lot of engineering stuff I don't understand

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Individuals

• Steve Mallet Riverview NB
• Open Source Directory founder/managing editor
• Steve started out with some ideas, a couple of
  desktop machines and a Red Hat CD
• Now, Steve's web site gets 2 million hits a day,
  and he's well known in the OSS community.

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Steve Mallet

• Webmaster for OSI
• Attends high-profile conferences/events
• Now, when Steve has ideas, lots of people listen
• My point is not to embarrass Steve
• My point is to demonstrate how low the barriers
  to entry have become
• From zero to computer-industry personality,
  without spending a dime on s/w

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Conclusion
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