OPEN SOURCE PLEDGE

Government and all public institutions should use open source operating systems, software and open standards hardware so that they are not held in ransom to any private interests nor be seen to play favorites. Nor can it be forced to upgrade or have fears that a format would become obsolete. This would save the taxpayers untold billions of dollars because most of it is free and can be modified by the users to increase usability and security. When we know what's in our software, we can use it with more confidence and detect and repair defects quickly or change it to better suit our needs.

Using open source would enhance our ability to communicate freely, the very essence of a democracy. Open source is a leveler by it being open to everyone and so it would enhance the public realm where information must be freely available.

Open source software is developed more quickly than proprietary software because it is a shared community effort, more programmers work on it and others can catch their mistakes and correct them immediately. Because the development of open source is done out of love and common interests, not for profit, there is always someone knowledgeable about a particular program available to offer help with user's problems. This is a model of tech support that no private organization can possibly match.

Now that there is available high-level, free, open source software, such as the incredibly stable operating system, Linux, and office suites, that can easily compete with proprietary software, there are no good reasons for the government to spend unnecessary funds to support private efforts. Many of us already use open source programs. Netscape became open source years ago. The Department of Defense has recently transitioned to the free, open source Star Office suite as its default wordprocessor/spreadsheet/drawing/presentation/browser program.

Our schools would benefit enormously by using open source. Not only would they have free software, freeing up money for student needs and other important projects, but by its being open, it is the ideal platform to teach programming. The same can be said for our public libraries.

Developing countries would benefit enormously by using free, open source operating systems and software, especially with donations of our older computer hardware, helping them to bridge the technological gap.

We should ask our representatives to consider this move to open source and sign a pledge to convert their offices and the bureaucracy to open source software and open hardware standards with a resolution to pass laws requiring all levels of government to use open source.