[ubuntu-us-ma] The Free Software, Open Source promise: what FOSS means for non-coders

[Kevin Cole]

On 03/11/2010 04:33 PM, Danny Piccirillo wrote:
>     For me, the main challenge in explaining FOSS is that you also have to
>     explain what software is, and how it is created.  
> 
> 
> This is exactly what i'm talking about

When explaining this to people I use the analogy of a car: Many people
drive but do not care to fine-tune their own car.  Often they will know
both the professional mechanic, and the enthusiast who can make anything
with four wheels do something marvelous.  Then I ask "What if both the
professional and the 'hobbyist' had no permission to look under the hood?
What if they could look -- if they paid a fee -- but could not improve upon
the original model.  What if they could not explain what they learned to
others?"

I then often throw in a bit about some of the proprietary diagnostic
software that mechanics pay for.  But, I don't have a car, don't drive and
can only carry the analogy so far.

Still, for many people a light in the brain seems to flicker in response,
and we begin to have the glimmerings of understanding.
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 Kevin Cole                    |  Key ID: 0xE6F332C7   (GPG/PGP)
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