Transcript Open Source Software (OSS) EUROSTAT Authors: Brendan McAvinue, Leonhard Maqua, Uwe Kunzler EUROSTAT and OSS No defined position on OSS Gaining momentum  Must be considered for.

Open Source Software
(OSS)
EUROSTAT
Authors: Brendan McAvinue, Leonhard Maqua, Uwe Kunzler
EUROSTAT and OSS
No defined position on OSS
Gaining momentum

Must be considered for new projects
Strategic decisions required

In line with Commission policy
Eurostat Proposal 2002
CoRD Task Force
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
Establish a central OSS group within the
European Statistical System
Create a central repository of statistical OSS
What is OSS ?
Copyright is retained
Distributed under license

Some restrictions but not many
Not freeware

Freedom to modify
Not public domain

Copyrighted
Examples of OSS
APACHE – runs over 50% of web servers
BIND – software providing domain for entire web
service
LINUX – free operating system
CIRCA – limited OSS, restricted license, time
limts etc.
Licenses
GNU GPL, BSD (Berkley Public
License), Own license
Usually very open

Free to modify, adapt, integrate, bug fixes, redistribute
Copyright holder can incorporate
changes
Possible OSS at Eurostat
CIRCA – Commission groupware tool

Currently distributed under restricted license
STIPES – generic file converter (2004)
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Proposal to make it OSS
IDEP/CN8 – Intrastat software
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Source code available under legal agreement
GENEDI – GESMES conversion tool
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Currently available as freeware
OSS and the Public Sector (1)
Utilising existing OSS products
Migration to Open Source systems
Realistic alternative
Long term strategy
Implications for technical and human
resources
Migration costs
OSS and the Public Sector (2)
Commission Studies
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Open Source in Europe (2001)
Pooling OSS (2002)
IDA OSS Migration Guidelines (2003)
http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/ida
Proposed IDA project

“Encouraging good practice in the use of OSS
in Public Administrations”
Overview and inventory of OSS
Provide technical advice
Benefits of OSS
Software is free of charge
Copyright is protected
Development and testing is ongoing
No dependence on dominant proprietary systems
Security
Interoperability
Drawbacks to OSS
No warranties or accountability
Technical and administrative support
required by the holder
High dependence on existing in-house
systems
Migration costs
Human resources
Conclusions
OSS is feasible
Beneficial to public administrations
Implications for administrative and technical
resources
Migration to OSS should be systematic
Some Eurostat products could be OSS
Discussion Topics
Licensing scheme for the ESS
Existing software as OSS?
Commonly developed open source
products?
Central repository of statistical OSS?
IDA project on statistical OSS?