1. Straight Talk
Horizon: How would you explain the concept of free and open
source software?
Fahad: In the context of free and open-source software, free refers
to the freedom to copy and re-use the software, rather than to the price
of the software. Free software movement is more concerned with user’s
freedoms. Open Source is more about the sharing the code and is more
enterprise-friendly.
Horizon: What are the basic freedoms associated with free software?
Fahad: In the case of free software, you have the freedom to run the
program, for any purpose; the freedom to study how the program works,
and change it to make it do what you wish. Access to the source code is a
precondition for this. The third component is the freedom to redistribute
copies so you can help your neighbours and friends. The fourth element
is the freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements
(and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole com-
munity benefits. As you may know, Linux kernel, Apache Web server,
Eclipse, and Mozilla Firefox are some famous FOSS projects.
Horizon: What are the advantages of having access to source code
of a software?
Fahad: The availability of the source code and the right to modify it
is very important. It enables the unlimited tuning and improvement of a
software product. It also makes it possible to port the code to new hard-
ware, to adapt it to changing conditions, and to reach a detailed under-
standing of how the system works. This is why many experts are reaching
the conclusion that to really extend the lifetime of an application, it must
be available in source form. In fact, no binary-only application more than
10 years old now survives in unmodified form, while several open source
software systems from the 1980s are still in widespread use. Source code
availability also makes it much easier to isolate bugs, and for a program-
mer to fix them. Another advantage of open source software is that there
is no single entity on which the future of the software depends. This is a
very common concern with proprietary software. Let us say that a com-
pany uses a software product, and relies on the software manufacturer
for upgrades and continued development. If the software manufacturer
closes doors, or decides to discontinue development of the product, no
one has the right to take the program and continue development on it,
effectively killing its usability in the market. Open source software effec-
tively protects against this, because if the company that originated the
code decides to stop development, it is always possible to fund another
software group to continue the maintenance and improvement, without
legal nor practical limitations.
Horizon: Could you elaborate on the market share of FOSS in the
software industry?
Fahad: Linux represents 12.7% of the overall server market share. It
has been reported in September 2006 that eight of the ten most reliable
internet hosting companies ran Linux distributions on their web servers.
Nevertheless, Linux has a great market share of supercomputers, cloud
computing providers, and embedded devices. The web browser software
Mozilla Firefox has celebrated a billion downloads on July 2009. Firefox is
Fahad Amer Al Saidi
reported to have more than 20% of the market share.
Fahad Amer Al Saidi, an advocate for “free and
Horizon: Could you elaborate on the “Free and Open Source Soft- open source software” or FOSS, is employed as
ware Initiative (FOSSI), launched by the ITA Oman? Projects Specialist with the Information Technol-
ogy Authority, Sultanate of Oman. FOSS is liber-
Fahad: FOSSI is part of the e-Oman strategy, to support all applications ally licensed to grant the right of users to use,
and technology that used to develop the IT Sector in Oman. It is aimed
study, change, and improve its design through
at raising awareness of the existence of free open source software FOSS
the availability of its source code. This approach
and its various applications. It seeks to present the free and open source
has gained both momentum and acceptance in
software applications as an alternative to the proprietary software. Sultan
SQU and the Sultanate as the potential benefits
Qaboos University is one of the leading local stake holders of this initia-
have been increasingly recognized by both in-
tive. As part of this project, workshops, seminars, and symposia are organ-
dividuals and corporations. In a symposium or-
ized to disseminate information on the philosophy, and applications of
ganised by the Free and Open Source Software
FOSS. In order to build capacity in this area, specialized workshops about
Society, functioning under the Communications
certain programming languages or applications and specialized training
& Information Research Centre, Fahd al Saidi,
are conducted regularly.
gave a talk on the benefits of using free and open
source software.