Showing posts with label OpenOffice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OpenOffice. Show all posts

Monday, January 25, 2021

FOSS/FLOSS: what's the difference?

One L. Is that all the difference between FOSS and FLOSS?
Photo by Syd Wachs on Unsplash

On a recent post, we discussed the differences between Free Software, Open-Source, Libre, FOSS and FLOSS. Today, let's review the differences and similarities between both. 

FOSS / FLOSS

The first thing to know is that either FOSS and FLOSS are acronyms, where:

  • F/O/S/S: Free + Open Source + Software
  • F/L/O/S/S: Free + Libre + Open Source + Software

If that didn't help much, don't worry! Let's review what they mean. 

Free Software

The term "free software" was created by Richard Stallman the creator of the GNU project and the Free Software Foundation. Free in "free software" is not about price, but freedom. Freedom to use and modify the software you use. According to the GNU Project, the four essential freedoms are:

  • Freedom 0: freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose.
  • Freedom 1: freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
  • Freedom 2: freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others.
  • Freedom 3: freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others. By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
In summary, free software is about freedom, not price.

Open-Source

The term "open source" was created by a group of folks who later formed the Open Source Initative (OSI) to distinguish from the more philosophically-focused term "free software." According to OSI's distribution terms, open-source software must comply with the following ten criterias:

  • Free redistribution
  • Access to the source code
  • Derived Works
  • Integrity of The Author's Source Code
  • No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
  • No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
  • Distribution of License
  • License Must Not Be Specific to a Product
  • License Must Not Restrict Other Software
  • License Must Be Technology-Neutral

Libre

Due to the ambiguity of the word free in the English language meaning both "for free" and "freedom", libre (which in French means "free" as in freedom) was chosen given its equivalency to freedom. Today Libre is frequently (and correctly) used as a synonym/alternative for "free" as per Stallman's original definition.

Difference between FOSS and FLOSS

With all that said let's discuss the difference between FOSS and FLOSS: one L. As seen above, because Libre and Free are synonyms (as per the author's original intention however on different languages), FOSS and FLOSS are equivalents.

However, some people view FLOSS as more inclusive than FOSS which we totally disagree. Whoever created the expression FLOSS, didn't understand that F stands for freedom (not "for free" as in costs zero dollars).

Conclusion

On this post we discussed the potential differences between FOSS and FLOSS. Since both F and L are about freedom, not price, both are literally synonyms as intended by the creator of the "free software" expression. That said, FOSS and FLOSS can be considered equivalents with FLOSS being redundant at most.

Do you disagree? Reach out to us on twitter to let us know!

References

See Also

Monday, November 23, 2020

Why Linux is perfect for Governments and public institutions

Linux could be a cheaper, safer and more adequate choice for Governments, municipalities and public institutions around the world. Learn why.
Photo by Sean Pollock on Unsplash

Linux runs the cloud, the Internet and supercomputers. Turns out that due to its free price tag, open nature, interoperability with open standards, enterprise features and robust security, Linux could be a great fit for Governments, municipalities and public institutions around the world. Let's understand how.

Linux is free

One of the most important reasons to use Linux in Governments and public agencies is its price: zero. As public debt grows, it won't be long until Governments, cities and public institutions adapt to this new reality of budget reduction. Turns out that using Linux and open-source software allows to cut costs significantly.

Enterprise-grade security

Linux is way more secure than Macs and Windows. That's due to multiple factors: the open-source model, its open-collaboration model, built-in enterprise grade software, native full-disk encryption, less exposure to viruses and ransomware, security-aware architecture, enterprise-grade security modules such as SELinux and AppArmor, integrity sub-systems that can be used to detect if a file has been altered, frequent updates and encrypted data at rest.

TIP: Want to know more about these features? Read why use Linux.

Security Certifications

Enterprise Linux has all the clearance to pass most security requirements by public agencies including FIPS 140-2 Level 1 certification and Common Criteria EAL2. If that sounds too complicated, please consider researching what these certifications demand from the vendors.

Open-source code

Due to its open nature, researches frequently inspect, test and certify the code you'll end up using. When issues are found, they're reported and fixed as quickly as possible, tested and released to you. This constant review and curation of software guarantees that your Governments or public agencies will be getting software as secure as it can possibly be.

Less viruses, less ransomware, less threats

Despite still being subject to viruses and ransomware, the previously mentioned features combined with a significant smaller percentage threats of make Linux much safer than Windows and Macs (but not immune). And Linux also has anti-viruses if the system administrators need need too.

Linux will feel familiar

Users in public institutions fear not, Linux is will feel familiar to you regardless of your background. Most distributions these days use either GNOME and KDE, which contain applications for everything that you expect: file managers, contacts, calendars, email, communication tools, etc. For example GNOME, the standard for most distributions looks like this:
While KDE looks like this:

Huge selection of applications

Public-sector employees will still have their favorite applications available on Linux. Modern browsers  like Google Chrome, Firefox, communication software like Slack, Skype, Zoom and even Microsoft Teams are available on Linux. Need a modern development environment? Visual Studio Code also runs on Linux!

Source: Slack Downloads

Linux is reliable

Remember this? You'll probably not miss that! Using Linux will be a way more stable experience. Your system will rarely crash and the tools you'll use will make your computer way more stable than Windows or Mac equivalents.

Good for old hardware

Linux is also excellent for old hardware as it can be configured with lighter tools that utilize less resources. Most distributions (such as Fedora LXDE shown below) release alternative lightweight versions so you'll just need a simple install to get these systems optimized for lower-end hardware.

Linux is customizable

If just setting up a custom repository isn't enough, organizations can benefit from Linux's fantastic array of customization options allowing them to customize everything including:
  • Desktop Managers: for example, GNOME, KDE, XFCE, LXQT and LXDE.
  • Login Managers: how to login in your system.
  • Desktop themes: themes, colors, etc.
  • Fonts: customize your fonts, sizes, etc.
  • Systems and Services: your system will have an endless list of services to choose from.
  • Kernel: even the kernel, the main process of your system can be customized.

Free Office Tools

Linux also offers many alternatives to Microsoft's Office proprietary suite on Linux including LibreOffice, OpenOffice, WPS and Calligra Suite. You'll probably not miss Word and Excel.
Source: linuxuprising.com

Frequent/Automatic updates

Linux distributions are frequently updated meaning that students will be getting the latest security, software and kernel fixes automatically. These are usually the holes crackers explore to target organizations. Getting updates quickly is also important to mitigate zero-days.

Reliable updates

We've seen a lot of mistakes recently made by either Microsoft and Apple with their Windows and Mac operating systems. Updates on Linux are not only reliable but are more frequent than anything you'd get on those systems. Governments and public agencies will probably choose long term support (LTS) system which provides up to 10 years. While allowing the developers in those organizations to run a different model updating every 6 months to get access to the most recent development technologies.

Custom repositories 

With Linux, Governments and the public sector can easily setup their own custom repositories allowing/limiting which software can be installed on their Linux workstations. 

Native disk-encryption

Most distributions offer native disk-encryption during the installation. Native disk-encryption is essential today as employees transport their devices out of the organization's secured space. If lost or stolen, the only way to access the data would be by entering the encryption password.

Conclusion

On this post we discussed why Linux is perfect for Governments and public institutions. Due to its low price, open nature, interoperability with open standards, enterprise-grade security and robust set of features, Linux could be a great fit for any public institution. We hope you learned something today and are excited to bring Linux to the attention of your community.

See Also

Monday, November 16, 2020

Why Linux is perfect for small companies and small organizations

Linux could be a cheaper, safer and more adequate choice for small companies and small organizations. Learn why.
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash

Linux runs the cloud, the Internet and supercomputers. Turns out that due to its free price, open nature, interoperability with open standards, enterprise features and robust security, Linux could be a great fit for your organization.

Linux is free

One of the most important reasons to use Linux in small companies and small organizations is its price: zero. We know how hard it is to keep the business afloat these days so every saved penny counts! Choosing Linux will not only allow your employees to to use newer, more modern software but also more secure technologies.

Enterprise-grade security

Linux is way more secure than Macs and Windows. That's due to multiple factors, including: its open-collaboration model, the open-source nature of its codebase, built-in enterprise grade software, security-aware architecture and frequent updates, native disk-encryption and encrypted data at rest.

Want to know more about these features? Read why use Linux.

Less viruses, less ransomware, less threats

Despite still being subject to viruses and ransomware, the previously mentioned features combined with a significant smaller percentage threats of make Linux much safer than Windows and Macs (but not immune). And Linux also has anti-viruses if the system administrators need too.

Linux will feel familiar

Users in your organization will feel familiar with Linux, regardless if they come from Windows or Mac. Most distributions these days use either GNOME and KDE, which contain applications for everything that you expect: file managers, contacts, calendars, email, communication tools, etc. For example, GNOME, the standard for most distributions looks like this:
While KDE looks like this:

Huge selection of applications

Your employees will also have access to their favorite applications such as Google Chrome, Brave and Firefox and runs most cloud services without issues. They will also find enterprise software like Zoom and Microsoft Teams if you need to talk to your clients. Visual Studio Code, Slack, yes, runs on Linux too!

Source: Slack Downloads

Linux is reliable

Remember this? You'll probably not miss those days. Using Linux will be a way more stable experience. Your system will rarely crash and the tools you'll use will make your computer way more stable than Windows or Mac equivalents.

Good for old hardware

Linux is also excellent for old hardware as it can be configured with lighter tools that utilize less resources. Most distributions (such as Fedora LXDE shown below) release alternative lightweight versions so you'll just need a simple install to get these systems optimized for lower-end hardware.

Frequent/Automatic updates

Linux distributions are frequently updated meaning that students will be getting the latest security, software and kernel fixes automatically. These are usually the holes crackers explore to target organizations. Getting updates quickly is also important to mitigate zero-days.

Reliable updates

We've seen a lot of mistakes recently made by either Microsoft and Apple with their Windows and Mac operating systems. Updates on Linux are not only reliable but are more frequent than anything you'd get on those systems. You can even mix update models, for example by choosing a long term support (LTS) system which provides up to 10 years while allowing the developers in those organizations to upgrade every 6 months to get access to the most recent development technologies.

Custom repositories 

With Linux, your organization can easily setup their own custom repositories allowing/limiting which software can be installed on their Linux workstations. 

Open-source code 

Small companies and small organizations can also benefit from the open-source code in the sense that they can modify and adjust the software they use if need be. While not a mandatory requirement, it's technically possible to modify the code, test and deploy it to production.

Linux is customizable

If just setting up a custom repository isn't enough, organizations can benefit from Linux's fantastic array of customization options allowing them to customize everything including:
  • Desktop Managers: most common are GNOME, KDE, XFCE, LXQT and LXDE.
  • Login Managers: how to login in your system.
  • Desktop themes: themes, colors, etc.
  • Fonts: customize your fonts, sizes, etc.
  • Systems and Services: your system will have an endless list of services to choose from.
  • Kernel: even the kernel, the main process of your system can be customized.

Free Office Tools

Small companies and organizations can also save thousands of Dollars per year by using one of the free alternatives to Microsoft's Office proprietary suite on Linux: LibreOffice, OpenOffice, WPS and Calligra Suite. You'll probably not miss Word and Excel.
Source: linuxuprising.com

Native disk-encryption

Most distributions offer native disk-encryption during the installation. Native disk-encryption is essential today as users frequently transport their devices out of the organizations's secured space. If lost or stolen, the only way to access the data would be by entering the encryption password.

Conclusion

On this post we discussed why Linux is perfect for Education. Due to its free price, open nature, interoperability with open standards and enterprise features, Linux could be a great fit for your school or University. We hope you learned something today and are excited to bring Linux to the attention of your organization.

See Also

Monday, November 9, 2020

Why Linux is perfect for Education

Linux could be a cheaper, safer and more adequate choice for your school, University or research lab. Learn how.
Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash

Linux runs the cloud, the Internet and supercomputers. Turns out that due to its free price, open nature, interoperability with open standards, enterprise features and robust security, Linux could be a great fit for your school, University or research lab.

Linux is free

One of the most important reasons to use Linux in education is its price: zero. Yes, Linux is free. As public debt grows, it won't be long until public institutions have to adapt to this new reality of budget reduction. Being free allows Linux to be a serious alternative in education as it's a solid, cost-effective and reliable alternative.

Enterprise-Grade security

Since the how critical Linux is for the functioning of the internet today, there are lots of eyes on its security model. There are multiple reasons why Linux is way more secure than Macs and Windows, including its: open-source nature, open-collaboration model, built-in enterprise grade software, security-aware architecture, frequent updates, native disk-encryption and encrypted data at rest.

TIP: Want to know more about these features? Read why use Linux

Open-source code

Due to its open nature, researches and hackers frequently inspect and crack the code. When issues are found, they're reported and fixed by community. This constant review and curation of software guarantees that your organization will be getting software as secure as it can be.

Less viruses, less ransomware, less threats

Despite still being subject to viruses and ransomware, the previously mentioned features combined with a significant smaller percentage of threats of make Linux much safer than Windows and Macs (but not immune). And Linux also has anti-viruses if the system administrators need too. 

Knowing that most students are not as tech-savvy, keeping your organization free from virtual threats will be less stressful with Linux as most ransomware target Windows and Macs.

Linux will feel familiar

Linux will feel familiar for Windows and Mac users. Most distributions will either use GNOME and KDE, the most popular desktop environments which contain applications for everything you'd expect: file managers, contacts, calendars, email, communication tools, etc. For example, GNOME, the standard for most distributions looks like this:
While KDE looks like this:

Huge selection of applications

Linux also supports your favorite browsers such as Google Chrome, Brave and Firefox and runs most cloud services without issues. On the educational side, Linux comes with fantastic tools such as the Scratch tool created by MIT:

Linux is reliable

Remember this? You'll probably not miss that. Using Linux will be a way more stable experience. It's yet another reason why evelopers prefer using Linux. Your system will rarely crash and the tools you'll use will make your computer way more stable than Windows or Mac equivalents.

Good for old hardware

Linux is also excellent for old hardware as it can be configured with lighter tools that utilize less resources. Most distributions (such as Fedora LXDE shown below) release alternative lightweight versions so you'll just need a simple install to get these systems optimized for lower-end hardware.

Reliable updates

We've seen a lot of mistakes recently made by either Microsoft and Apple with their Windows and Mac operating systems. Updates on Linux are not only reliable but are more frequent than anything you'd get on those systems. You can choose between a long term support (LTS) system which provides up to 10 years of support or go with a more dynamic model that updates once or twice a week, every 6 months for a new releases.

Frequent/Automatic updates

Linux distributions are frequently updated meaning that students will be getting the latest security, software and kernel fixes automatically. These are usually the holes crackers explore to target organizations. Getting updates quickly is also important to mitigate zero-days.

Custom repositories 

With Linux, organization can easily setup their own custom repositories allowing/limiting which software can be installed on their Linux workstations. 

Linux is customizable

If just setting up a custom repository isn't enough, organizations can benefit from Linux's fantastic array of customization options allowing them to customize everything including:
  • Desktop Managers: most common are GNOME, KDE, XFCE, LXQT and LXDE.
  • Login Managers: how to login in your system.
  • Desktop themes: themes, colors, etc.
  • Fonts: customize your fonts, sizes, etc.
  • Systems and Services: your system will have an endless list of services to choose from.
  • Kernel: even the kernel, the main process of your system can be customized.

Free Office Tools

Linux also offers many alternatives to Microsoft's Office proprietary suite on Linux including LibreOffice, OpenOffice, WPS and Calligra Suite. You'll probably not miss Word and Excel.
Source: linuxuprising.com

Native disk-encryption

Most distributions offer native disk encryption during the installation. Native disk-encryption is essential today as students frequently transport their devices out of the company's secured space. If lost or stolen, the only way to access the data would be by entering the encryption password.

Conclusion

On this post we discussed why Linux is perfect for Education. Due to its free price, open nature, interoperability with open standards and enterprise features, Linux could be a great fit for your school, University or research lab. We hope you learned something today and are excited to bring Linux to the attention of your organization.

See Also

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Free Software, Open-Source, Libre, FOSS and FLOSS: what are the differences?

Are these just different names for the same thing? Or there are differences? Photo by Romain Vignes on Unsplash We have been discussing...

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