First step toward software independence<\/p>\n
Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, vmahmud@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
Last Tuesday was the Indonesia Go Open Source (IGOS) Open House,
\nheld in the lobby of the Agency for the Assessment and
\nApplication of Technology (BPPT) building on Jl. Thamrin.<\/p>\n
Granted, the attendance of this event was a far cry from your
\ntypical IT\/computer fair where dozens of vendors compete to gain
\nthe attention of literally thousands of visitors, yet the IGOS
\nopen house represents a significant step for the country towards
\nusing \"free\" software.<\/p>\n
For the first time, there is a specific event focusing on open
\nsource solutions, which allows the general public to see how much
\nLinux has entered the Indonesian IT marketplace. And like
\ncurrent business trends, a lot of applications were focused on
\nthe Small and Medium Business (SMB) market.<\/p>\n
A company called Powernet Indosolusi (www.powernet.co.id)
\ncaught my attention, offering not only Linux-based software such
\nas a web-based accounting system and website content management
\nsolution, but also IT migration and security advisory services.<\/p>\n
These types of services are an ideal market for Linux
\ncompanies to focus on as companies begin to calculate their total
\ncost of ownership (TCO) of their current proprietary system,
\nconsidering whether they should switch over or not.<\/p>\n
For companies that have yet to enter the IT world, wiring up
\nthe office with affordable customized applications would allow
\nthem to work more efficiently to compete in this era of
\nglobalization.<\/p>\n
You can go to Powernet's website and see how their accounting
\nsystem work online.<\/p>\n
Another standout was PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara's (PSN) IGOS
\nsoftware. Designed for internet kiosks (commonly known as
\nwarnet), PSN offers four types of solutions that would allow
\nwarnet owners to ease into the open source fold.<\/p>\n
Two of the solutions, IGOS Laba-Laba and IGOS Kwartet, allows
\nwarnet to minimize hardware costs by using a diskless
\nworkstations and a thin client architecture (thus can use old
\nPCs) or share up to four clients on a server, each with their own
\nkeyboard and monitor.<\/p>\n
The warnet solutions come with everything a user needs: a web
\nbrowser (Firefox), an instant messenger (Gaim, K-IRC), an e-mail
\napplication (Evolution), and a productivity program (OpenOffice)
\njust to name a few.<\/p>\n
Despite the different programs and operating systems, warnet
\nusers will still be able to write letters, access the web and
\nsend messages to their friends. No different than regular
\ncomputers. You can see more about PSN's solution at
\nwww.psn.co.id\/igos<\/p>\n
Even computer schools such as Sisfokampus
\n(www.sisfokampus.net) and the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) IT and
\nCommunications Center (www.pptik.ugm.ac.id) are offering their
\nown Linux-based IT applications. UGM's planning management
\nsystem, built with open source tools such as PHP, MySQL and
\nApache web server, is said to be utilized by the city
\nadministration of Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
But perhaps the most anticipated open source solution is the
\nNational IGOS System Desktop (www.igos.web.id), a homegrown Linux
\ndistribution that is scheduled to be released in August. This
\nwould be Indonesia's answer to the relatively high costs of
\nproprietary software. It would offer all the applications needed
\nfor the user, and best of all, its license is not as restrictive
\nor expensive as the one we are normally forced to use. So its
\nlegal and safe!<\/p>\n
The IGOS Open House shows that there are many affordable
\nprograms in Indonesia using open source software. Making
\ncomputer applications was once the sole domain of first world
\nnations that had the expertise and framework to design and
\nproduce software. With the expansion of knowledge and software
\ntools, now anyone can learn to make great solutions at a lower
\ncost.<\/p>\n
There is still the perception that open source means free
\nsoftware. This is not always the case, as even programmers and
\ndevelopers need to eat and pay bills. With open source software,
\ndevelopers will be able to freely access a wealth of knowledge
\nand experience online to quickly create solutions towards the
\nneeds of an individual, company or country.<\/p>\n
It is said that even the National IGOS System Desktop will not
\nalways be free, as costs to upgrade, issue patches and training
\nmust be paid for in the end. As long as the services are
\nperformed and the prices are reasonable, we should not be afraid
\nto pay for what we use.<\/p>\n
At the very least, our funds would help the developers and the
\neconomy to progress and advance, instead of sending a bulk of the
\nfunds overseas to pay off development fees and marketing costs of
\na proprietary software that has already recouped its investment
\nlong ago.<\/p>",
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