Chapter 10: Ethical Interest in Free and Open Source Software 

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599

What I expect to learn?

I expect to learn about Ethical Interest in Free and Open Source Software.

Quote:

“The distinction between Free Software and Open Source Software has had a positive effect on the software development community and on the larger online community as well”

Review:

The free software community grew substantially after the introduction of the Internet and Linus Torvalds contribution of Linux as free software. “Free software” is defined in terms of being no-cost, unrestricted in its use, and freely available in terms of the source code. Our ideas and intuitions about property for material objects are about whether it is right to take an object away from someone else. They don’t directly apply to making a copy of something. Digital rights management refers to software that copyright holders use to manage creative content and to control the copying of electronic versions of that material. Perhaps in the end the open-source culture will triumph not because cooperation is morally right or software hoarding is morally right or software hoarding is morally wrong. The OSS development model seems to verify that it is economical and productive to recruit volunteers from the Internet. OSS developers work as volunteers from the perspective of the project, and can join or quit an effort strictly on their own initiative. Quality software, in the traditional sense, is software that meets requirement specifications, is well-tested, well-documented, and maintainable. Both open source and proprietary developers share the professional ethical responsibility to develop solid, well-tested code. The distinction between Free Software and Open Source Software has had a positive effect on the software development community and on the larger online community as well.

What I Learned?

• ·        Ethical Interest in Free
• ·        Open Source Software

Integrative Question:

1. Where did open source software begin?
2. What does free software means?
3. What does Stallman side of statement?
4. What does the OSS development model for?
5. What is digital right management?

Discussion:

Where did open source software begin?

The free software community grew substantially after the introduction of the Internet and Linus Torvalds contribution of Linux as free software.

What does free software means?

“Free software” is defined in terms of being no-cost, unrestricted in its use, and freely available in terms of the source code.

What does Stallman side of statement?

Our ideas and intuitions about property for material objects are about whether it is right to take an object away from someone else. They don’t directly apply to making a copy of something

What is digital right management?

Digital rights management refers to software that copyright holders use to manage creative content and to control the copying of electronic versions of that material.

What did Raymond conclude?

Perhaps in the end the open-source culture will triumph not because cooperation is morally right or software hoarding is morally right or software hoarding is morally wrong.

What does the OSS development model for?

The OSS development model seems to verify that it is economical and productive to recruit volunteers from the Internet.

What is the perspective of OSS project?

OSS developers work as volunteers from the perspective of the project, and can join or quit an effort strictly on their own initiative.

What can we see on the quality of OSS?

Quality software, in the traditional sense, is software that meets requirement specifications, is well-tested, well-documented, and maintainable.

What is the ethical responsibility of software developer?

Both open source and proprietary developers share the professional ethical responsibility to develop solid, well-tested code.

What is the concluding part of the chapter?

The distinction between Free Software and Open Source Software has had a positive effect on the software development community and on the larger online community as well.