The Penguin in the Pyramid - The Free Software Movement and Egypt's IT Strategies
Most of us the computer savvy amongst us are used to the idea that we buy a computer, and we buy the software that we subsequently run on this computer. Even if the computer you bought already comes with the software, this is of course included in the computer's sticker price. Software is, after all, the result of someone else's hard work, and it must therefore cost money. Right?
Wrong. Or, rather, not necessarily.
Software has not always cost money. Software, like computers, has its roots in the scientific and academic community and enjoyed, for a long time, the benefits of the working philosophies of this community. A programmer wrote a program to address a need he had. Finding the software he had written useful, he then passed it on to his colleagues along with the source code so that they too might make use of it. The source code is a little like the recipe where the finished program is a cake; you can eat the cake, but you don't know how to make it if you don't have the instructions.
Under the aegis of the academic community, the quality of software improved very rapidly. The concept of 'peer review' was important in this regard; peer review is when one programmer writes software, then gives it out for free with the source code, and other programmers use it and improve it and give out the improved version for free with the source code, ad infinitum.
When computers began becoming household items in the 1980s, the software industry began emerging largely based on the idea that it was more profitable to charge money for the program and too keep the source code a secret. This describes the software that 99% of us use today in 2002. Non-free software.
A programmer from MIT called Richard Stallman in the mid 1980s began a project to resist this new trend of non-free software by beginning to write a complete operating system from scratch, and making his work freely available. He was soon joined by many others who agreed with his ideals. In 1991, Stallman was joined by a particularly talented Finnish programmer called Linus Torvalds who helped bring Stallman's work into the light of reality. By this time, thousands of people worldwide were donating their time, effort, and talent to the free software project, and we stand today with the proud result of this work, an entire operating system called GNU/Linux.
GNU/Linux (Linux for short) today is worked on by tens if not hundreds of thousands of volunteers worldwide who all contribute to the software by each working on his own little part, all of them releasing their work for free, and with the source code included to gain the full benefits of the peer review system. This development of software development and release is most normally referred to as 'open-source' or 'free software' - free as in 'free speech' as well as in 'free lunch'.
The Linux operating system is, in fact, so mature now that it is estimated to be used by XXX million people worldwide. The Finnish government has switched departments to the system. The German Bundestag has taken the Decision to switch to Linux too. The Peruvian parliament has passed a bill stipulating the clause of free, open source software in government tenders. The National Security Agency in the United States is so interested in Linux that they sponsor certain parts of the programming in-house. IBM is switching its business focus to Linux and open source software.
It is nothing short of a revolution in the name of electronic freedom. And the biggest winner is the consumer.
This is the point at which hands start to shoot up in the audience and the questions start coming in. Let's take the most obvious ones.
Q: Why haven't I heard of Linux before then, if it is so good?
A: There are a lot of reasons for this. First of all, Linux has traditionally been something called a server operating system. This means that it used to only be used by technically minded people who really knew exactly what they were doing. This is not the case any more. Linux is at least as easy to use as windows these days, and things will only get better.
Another, and more pertinent reason why you haven't heard of it before is the issue of localization. Localization means adapting the computer software to a certain language. Arabic Windows, for example, is often referred to as localized. Linux does support Arabic, though the level of support is at the moment somewhat weak. There are many reasons for this. One main reason, however, appears to be that there are not enough motivated and qualified people speaking Arabic who are available to do this work. IBM started working on this issue, but seems to have lost steam. The Israeli government has tackled this issue by sponsoring the Hebrew localization of Linux and all its accompanying software. The Chinese government is sponsoring the development of its own, Chinese localized version of Linux.
Q: Aha. I see what you are driving at, Mr. Assad. You want the Egyptian government to begin sponsoring work on arabizing Linux.
A: Yes.
Q: Well, ok. Give me a few more good reasons then.
A: At the moment, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) works with Microsoft, as does the Ministry of Higher Education. Windows costs quite a bit of money; we, Egypt, are hardly in a situation where we have dollars to throw around at software licenses.
Q: And you think we should begin to use Linux?
A: I think we should begin, at the government level, to educate ourselves about the free software movement, and to begin laying the foundation for using free software.
Q: By sponsoring programmers who would arabise Linux?
A: Amongst other things. Also by making Linux available to university students, and school students, etc. the way Microsoft makes its software available.
Q: Well why can't the Linux company just go to the Ministries and do what Microsoft did?
A: Because there is no Linux company. Linux is not owned by anyone. It is an idea, a movement. Not a for-profit organization. Not even an NGO. It 's an electronic vision that a one man in MIT a few decades ago thought up, and that is carried on by thousands of people today.
Q: I see.
A: I'm glad you do.
Q: Well then, how good is it?
A: It is nothing short of wonderful. It is very fast. It will work on old computers as well as new ones. It can run on that old PC you stopped using in 1992, and it can run very well on it too. It is one of the most secure systems in the world; you did catch me when I said that the NSA is using it and assisting in its development, didn't you? There is almost no such thing as a virus with Linux.
My personal theory why Linux is so good goes along the following lines; people work better when they do what they do out of love. The entire system is crafted by people who write what they write without financial reward or employment contracts. They must, therefore, be doing something because it gives them joy. It is an unusual form of art, you could say, and these artists love their work.
Q: Interesting theory... Well alright, what kind of programs are there for Linux then?
A: With Linux, it's never a question of whether there is, for example, a word processor available or not. It's a question of which word processor to use. You need a spreadsheet? Here, have 15 and take your pick. A game? Here's a few hundred; have fun. What's that you say? A database? Here's a few hundred databases, and here's a feature chart to help you choose which one you want.
Q: OK, OK, I get your point. But why are there so many programs? Why not just one?
A: The open source theory goes that more choice is always better. Would you be happy if there were only Pepsi or Coca Cola? I must admit that it can be a little bewildering to have so much choice initially, but you learn to appreciate not being stuck with one choice. Besides, the programmers that make up the free software movement are a funny bunch; they always like being the one to write the better program. Joe writes a calculator program, and releases it. Jeff sees it, likes it, but says to himself "Hey, I can do better than that..." and writes his own improved calculator. Susan sees Jeff's calculator and decides she can write something a lot nicer, and all of a sudden, we have three calculators. It's an ego thing. This is how Linux got so good so fast.
Q: OK. Now tell me, honestly, where's the catch?
A: Gee, you are a paranoid one, aren't you? There is no catch. Other than Linux being quite addictive.
Q: Where does this leave Microsoft and Windows then?
A: Windows is also a nice operating system; it has much merit. For a long time, it was easier to use than Linux. Some people will inevitably try Linux and decide that they are better off in Windows; this is fair enough. I, however, and the small fraction of the Egyptian population who have used Linux, however, feel that people must at least know what Linux is, and that the MCIT should have another look at Linux.
Q: Why does the title of this article mention a penguin?
A: Linux has a mascot, and that mascot is a very cute little penguin; his name is Tux. Tux is very popular, mind you; you can get Tux t-shirts, stuffed toys, bumper stickers, you name it. Tux even stars in online comic strips. And in the spirit of free software and open source, these cartoon strips are free to access.
Q: I'm not sure I get it. There's all these people writing software... for free?
A: History is full of artists who didn't make very much money but all the same kept at it out of love of their work. This is not very much different. Except with Linux, it just happens to be one of the most massive collaborative peaceful efforts in the history of human endeavour.
Q: OK. Now let's say I'm interested.
A: Linux is still scarce on the soil of Egypt. Your best bet, however, would be to look in on the Egyptian Linux users' group... that is www.linux-egypt.org.
Q: One thing before you go; why are you taking the time to write this? Hmm?
A: I'm like the guy who went to a very nice art exhibition and then wanted to tell everyone about it so they would go too. Like they say, the best things in life are indeed free, and what's free is compelling to share.
Youssef M. Assad - 7th of October 2002
I may be contacted here. This page is copyright Youssef M. Assad 2002; that means that you may reproduce this document in original unmodified form provided you let me know first.