First step toward software independence

First step toward software independence

Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, vmahmud@yahoo.com

Last Tuesday was the Indonesia Go Open Source (IGOS) Open House,
held in the lobby of the Agency for the Assessment and
Application of Technology (BPPT) building on Jl. Thamrin.

Granted, the attendance of this event was a far cry from your
typical IT/computer fair where dozens of vendors compete to gain
the attention of literally thousands of visitors, yet the IGOS
open house represents a significant step for the country towards
using "free" software.

For the first time, there is a specific event focusing on open
source solutions, which allows the general public to see how much
Linux has entered the Indonesian IT marketplace. And like
current business trends, a lot of applications were focused on
the Small and Medium Business (SMB) market.

A company called Powernet Indosolusi (www.powernet.co.id)
caught my attention, offering not only Linux-based software such
as a web-based accounting system and website content management
solution, but also IT migration and security advisory services.

These types of services are an ideal market for Linux
companies to focus on as companies begin to calculate their total
cost of ownership (TCO) of their current proprietary system,
considering whether they should switch over or not.

For companies that have yet to enter the IT world, wiring up
the office with affordable customized applications would allow
them to work more efficiently to compete in this era of
globalization.

You can go to Powernet's website and see how their accounting
system work online.

Another standout was PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara's (PSN) IGOS
software. Designed for internet kiosks (commonly known as
warnet), PSN offers four types of solutions that would allow
warnet owners to ease into the open source fold.

Two of the solutions, IGOS Laba-Laba and IGOS Kwartet, allows
warnet to minimize hardware costs by using a diskless
workstations and a thin client architecture (thus can use old
PCs) or share up to four clients on a server, each with their own
keyboard and monitor.

The warnet solutions come with everything a user needs: a web
browser (Firefox), an instant messenger (Gaim, K-IRC), an e-mail
application (Evolution), and a productivity program (OpenOffice)
just to name a few.

Despite the different programs and operating systems, warnet
users will still be able to write letters, access the web and
send messages to their friends. No different than regular
computers. You can see more about PSN's solution at
www.psn.co.id/igos

Even computer schools such as Sisfokampus
(www.sisfokampus.net) and the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) IT and
Communications Center (www.pptik.ugm.ac.id) are offering their
own Linux-based IT applications. UGM's planning management
system, built with open source tools such as PHP, MySQL and
Apache web server, is said to be utilized by the city
administration of Yogyakarta.

But perhaps the most anticipated open source solution is the
National IGOS System Desktop (www.igos.web.id), a homegrown Linux
distribution that is scheduled to be released in August. This
would be Indonesia's answer to the relatively high costs of
proprietary software. It would offer all the applications needed
for the user, and best of all, its license is not as restrictive
or expensive as the one we are normally forced to use. So its
legal and safe!

The IGOS Open House shows that there are many affordable
programs in Indonesia using open source software. Making
computer applications was once the sole domain of first world
nations that had the expertise and framework to design and
produce software. With the expansion of knowledge and software
tools, now anyone can learn to make great solutions at a lower
cost.

There is still the perception that open source means free
software. This is not always the case, as even programmers and
developers need to eat and pay bills. With open source software,
developers will be able to freely access a wealth of knowledge
and experience online to quickly create solutions towards the
needs of an individual, company or country.

It is said that even the National IGOS System Desktop will not
always be free, as costs to upgrade, issue patches and training
must be paid for in the end. As long as the services are
performed and the prices are reasonable, we should not be afraid
to pay for what we use.

At the very least, our funds would help the developers and the
economy to progress and advance, instead of sending a bulk of the
funds overseas to pay off development fees and marketing costs of
a proprietary software that has already recouped its investment
long ago.