Free/Open Source Software and the International Open
Source Network
Introduction to IOSN
The International Open Source Network1 is a Centre of Excellence for Free / Open
Source Software (FOSS) in the Asia-Pacific Region. IOSN is an initiative of the UNDP’s
Asia-Pacific Information Development Programme2, which supports effective use of
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for poverty alleviation and
sustainable human development. Via a small secretariat, the IOSN is tasked specifically
to accelerate the adoption of FOSS by facilitating and networking advocates, developers,
and users in the region; developing FOSS tools; building capacities; and supporting
FOSS R&D.
Community Management
IOSN runs a portal which has over 1000 registered members and has had over 100,000
unique visitors in the last two months. This global community has created over 2,500
content objects in a voluntary capacity. The content organisation is based on region,
country and theme and interested members have been granted additional permission to
manage and publish content these public sections. Other users publish content only in
their personal folders.
Publications
IOSN publishes a FOSS primer series. The current and upcoming titles include general
introduction to FOSS; FOSS government policy; FOSS in education, localisation;
licensing; open content; open standards; network security and infrastructure. The authors
come from the Asia-Pacific region. The primers undergo peer and public review before
being published electronically and in hard copy. These primers are aimed at policymakers and decision-makers from the government, multilateral, donor, and development
agencies.
Events
IOSN organises conferences such as Free Open Source Software – Asia-Pacific
(FOSSAP). Last year, more than 50 senior policy-makers and FOSS practitioners from 20
countries attended this regional consultation in Kuala Lumpur (www.iosn.net/fossap).
IOSN has promoted and supported events such as Software Freedom Day, which is an
annual event in celebration of FOSS on August 28th. IOSN is also organising a talk series
in partnership with government, academia and the local FOSS community. Richard
1http://www.iosn.net
2http://www.apdip.net
Stallman, Founder of the Free Software Movement, spoke in Malaysia and Singapore
recently.
Training
IOSN is producing end-user training material in print and interactive multimedia format.
It covers the use of the GNU/Linux desktop for users that may have no prior knowledge
of Linux or PC usage. IOSN is also producing a live CD for users of proprietary software
who wish to learn more about FOSS. Both these projects are in partnership with private
sector and academia from Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.
A pilot Linux training of trainers and proctors in partnership with the Ministry of Science
and Technology of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City government and the Linux Professional
Institute, Canada, has been held in Vietnam. 20 Linux trainees from North, Central and
South regions of Vietnam participated in the training session. The proctors came from six
South-East Asian countries and will be able to administer affordable paper tests for Linux
skills certification. There are plans to translate the open content Linux system
administration training materials to other languages.
IOSN also supports the development of a localisation toolkit in collaboration with Centre
for Advanced Computing [CDAC], India. This practical toolkit will enable developers
and translators build GNU/Linux distributions and FOSS applications in the language of
their choice.
Grant Scheme
IOSN manages a micro-grant programme in collaboration with the University of South
Pacific. USD 1000 will be provided to 40 FOSS practitioners over the next two years to
work on projects relevant to the development sector. Applications for the first round of
grants have been received; the selection committee will announce the grantees shortly.
Enabling Copyright Framework
IOSN uses four types of licenses to enable a knowledge producing community. For
software projects, IOSN recommends GNU GPL or BSD style licenses. “Creative
Commons Attribution” or “Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike” licenses are
recommended for documentation projects. This choice of licenses allows the authors and
developers to decide whether the users can create derivative works under non-free
licenses.
International Open Source Network (IOSN) <www.iosn.net>
UNDP Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) <www.apdip.net>