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Linux in the US Government
The use of open-source software by the government and its agencies is increasing.
DesktopLinux.com recently ran an opinion piece issuing a sort of call to begin a grass roots effort to promote the use of Linux in US government agencies. The author, Harry LeBlanc, mentions the recent press shedding light on the use of Linux by national and governments around the world, and he laments the possibility that the advantages reaped by those governments might be lost on those in the United States.
In fact, while far from ubiquitous, Linux and open-source software is popping up everywhere from local-level governments to national agencies. A couple of examples are the Orange County city of Garden Grove, which has been using Linux for years, and the recently launched Dublin County, N.C. web site, which uses Linux, PHP and MySQL.
On a grander scale, many federal agencies are also using Linux. One example is the US Navy Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), which collects and analyzes the world's oceans for the benefit of both the Navy and other Department of Defense agencies, is currently using Linux in certain environments. Additionally, they have teamed up with the Open-Source Software Institute to analyze the ways in which they are using Linux and other open-source software and how they might better deploy it.
In addition to the many advantages to be gleaned from using open-source software in government that Mr. LeBlanc lists in his piece, it would seem that as an increasing number of government agencies adopt Linux and bring their influence to bear in its support, the threat of SSSCA-type laws ever making it through our nation's legislation decreases.
Richard Vernon is Editor in Chief of Linux Journal.
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Comments
Re: Linux in the US Government
In Puerto Rico the Linux movement is on Vida Linux Web Portal.
Re: Linux in the US Government
Maybe this project motive to the Puerto Rico goverment to use Open Source solutions, like Linux and Open Office
Re: But what about the desktop?
I think the intent of the original author on the desktoplinux forum was that government should start using Linux on the desktops of civil servants. It's great that they are using it on the server side and for scientific applications, but that has been going on for quite a while. Also, there are so many more workstations than servers in the average government office. Think of all the savings on MS Windows and MS Office if they were running Linux instead.
Re: But what about the desktop?
When asked about Linux.....Can I read/write M$ Word docs? how about M$ Excel and M$ Powerpoint file formats? Agencies and non-profits have given-in to a defacto M$ standard. A file format that locks you into specific software is not good and forces the rest of us to ablige to purchase the same or a format converter. Smaller government begins on the desktop of every document handler. Thus Linux could save social security.
Re: But what about the desktop?
As I recall, the Fed dictated networking standards to all of their suppliers a while back, TCP/IP comes to mind. I've worked with state government agencies which required engineering & achitectural drawings be submitted in an approved format (not M$).
Who cares about the M$ format? If the Fed & State governments announced tomorrow that all submittions be in .txt format, corporations would comply.
The simple answer is to require XML formatting. It's the default setting in Office XP, Star Office, and, since it's a standard, could easily be integrated into any application.
Of course, this is a logical choice, therefore not likely to be taken seriously be elected officials.
Re: But what about the desktop?
Last time I checked, StarOffice did a good job of handling MS file formats...
Cheers,
Terry Wendt
Re: But what about the desktop?
It was indeed my intent to promote linux use on the desktops of non-geeky civil servants. Given the rising anti-Microsoft sentiment, and the tight budgets, it seems like a propitious time to persuade our elected officials to at least open up our procurement policies to linux and open source.
I'm delighted to hear that linux is already in use within some government agencies, but it galls me to have my tax dollars put in Bill's pocket for inferior overpriced software, and then to have my state government raise taxes and cut services to compensate for it.
One huge advantage that I didn't mention in my original article was that if there were significant linux/oss adoption among government agencies, it would soon follow that state governments would start contributing brainpower to opensource projects.
Re: But what about the desktop?
First off, I wish this conversation were being held in the Forum section. Oh well.
Maybe its time we start knocking on the GAO's door? It seems to be an actual, non-partisan dept. of the Federal Government. It seems that they SHOULD be interested in why the government keeps throwing our money into the incinerator. Shouldn't some government agency be interested in the ludicrous US vs. MS lawsuit judgment? You know the one, "You
Re: But what about the desktop?
i like your objective here. ...interesting note.
Re: Linux in the US Government
hmm. check out some netcraft stats: the whitehouseand be sure to check others too. its fun.
Re: Linux in the US Government
Didn't the Whitehouse move to Linux due to security concerns? Seems I also heard something about Pentagon and Navy sites on Linux. Just goes to show how much problems US government is having with security on MS os's. They wouldn't switch unless they had too (even if they can save $$$ and have less problems), the M$ lobby is that strong.
Re: Linux in the US Government
Some of their servers, like the US Army website is using WebObjects. Someone decided that having everything on one OS is a bad idea. I am not sure if it is still running WebObjects. The Post office uses it for their intranet. They use QNX for the letter sorters, and Linux for some OCR's. There are still some Vax deep in the bowels of the Post Office.
I have a friend who works for an agency. he told me that he no longer uses Windows at home. He is now a Linux user.
He is an old school hacker, and a real straight shooter. If he dropped Windows, he had to have good reason. He was a True believer in Windows. He learned something that made him abandon an OS he has used for many years. The impression he gave me that it wasn't a whim, but something important to him.
He has been in the business off an on, over a 30 year period. He knows his stuff. If a restaurant inspector won't eat in a certain restuarant, he has good reason. If an old spook will not use windows, he has good reason.
Re: Linux in the US Government
I think it's great to hear about the U.S. Government getting involved with Linux.
I think NASA was probably one of the first, however.
Ahhh-hemmm...
But on a more (here and now note)...
Whoo. How can I say this....
Considering the political environment of today,
if it weren't for the scientists insisting on
the building of Linux clusters to solve their
computational models, I don't think Linux would
have ever gotten started.
I think we have to keep in mind that there is a
*CLEAR* difference between people who work for
the government and George Bush.
I was shacking in my bed last night because since
9-11, we have lost our constitutional rights
to privacy. And there doesn't really seem to be
much concern over this from the top.
Secondly, George has a rather hard time differentiating between people and corporations.
I mean, MS was back defended so much, you'd think
MS was a person rather than a corporation.
I've heard of people treating pet's as people but
never corporations...
Re: Linux in the US Government
Lost rights to privacy? Give me an example. All I've seen so far is a tightening of security at airports, and additional requirements on non-citizens. By definition, non-citizens are not granted any guarantees by the Constitution. The fact that they've been so far protected has been a gift, not a constitutional obligation.
Perhaps you haven't read it and you are reacting based upon the ramblings of others?
MS hasn't come out of the woods yet, despite appearances. There are still 9 states fighting this, Sun, AOL, BE just announced a suit, etc. The judge that's holding hearings and will decide on the outcome is, at least in appearance, not taking the MS line as gospel. The fact that some dopes in the DOJ have decided to surrender while they were ahead is disconcerting. But, it ain't over til it's over. And it ain't.