The National Informatics Centre, has taken the first step towards freedom. and set up a PORTAL - yes, a portal. See http://osf.nic.in/
First, the nitpicks.
They are describing it as the `Open Source' forum, an initiative to address software tools based on `Open Standard' (note the singular)
The first thing which hits you on the face as you open the opening page it that it contains proprietary nonstandard tags (marquee). And images in a non standard format (gif).
The NIC cannot apparently get out of the thinking that the home page has to be a `click to continue' page. Well, `high security' on their servers has seen home pages of sites hosted on nic servers compromised more often than a desktop running ...... (umm snip that, we have better things to discuss).
So, I started clicking on each link, (luckily, in a new tab). The first page, http://osf.nic.in/openSourceSite/index_html seems to be the default plone theme. I scroll down, and first see the jarring copyright notice.
`OPEN SOURCE FORUM and its visual design is Copyright © 2003-2004 by NIC'
I'm not sure that authors of default plone CSS'es will like that.
So, I do a `ctrl u' and confirm that the CSS design is from the plone and not by NIC. (correct me is I am wrong).
The lines below the copyright notice claims to comply with the following standards:
* Section 508 * WAI-AAA * Valid XHTML * Valid CSS * Usable in any browser
Great!!!! Though I have no idea why the Government of _India_ should claim conformance to a law by a foreign sovereign, it certainly is a good idea that out government is getting around to the fact that disabled people are capable of using digital tools.
I did not want to log in (I am revealing my identity now, and the visitor number too, so they can find me out anyway).
After clicking on 25 or so links, nothing useful has turned up. But then, the site seems to have been created on 19 July, and I am visitor No. 132. Probably, the first or second in fact, and the rest might be the webadmin testing the site, FWIW.
One of those links were http://osf.nic.in/openSourceSite/state/view, In the list are Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharastra, and Tamil Nadu. Clicking on them requires another three links to get any useful information.
At the moment, I am at http://osf.nic.in/openSourceSite/openSourceDocument/openStandard/view and http://osf.nic.in/openSourceSite/openSourceDocument/openSource/view
Some useful URLs from the `portal':-
http://osf.nic.in/openSourceSite/openSourceDocument/publishedDocument/egov_s... (look out for warped url).
This one contains a few links to documents, most of which are already known to most of us.
For the rest, visit the site.
Ah, the positive side? They have made a beginning; and the failure to recognise the importance of _freedom_ IS bad. They need to switch over to the `freedom' angle.
If you do not understand why the term `free software' should be preferred over the term `Open Source', you should read www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html and www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html
Mahesh T. Pai wrote:
The National Informatics Centre, has taken the first step towards freedom. and set up a PORTAL - yes, a portal. See http://osf.nic.in/ ... They have made a beginning; ...
WOW!!! NIC has taken the first major step in moving towards free and open standards. That calls for a celebration :)
Ramanraj K said on Thu, Jul 22, 2004 at 05:23:21AM +0530,:
WOW!!! NIC has taken the first major step in moving towards free and open standards. That calls for a celebration :)
Not so fast!!! For example, if you are a part of Debian community and its various mailing lists, you will slowly understand why several of the `Open Source certified' licenses are not `free' enough.
But *today*, we have a cause for celebration -- summary dismissal of SCO suit against Daimler-Chrysler. Read about it at http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040721122325926
Mahesh T. Pai said on Thu, Jul 22, 2004 at 07:16:07AM +0530,:
Ramanraj K said on Thu, Jul 22, 2004 at 05:23:21AM +0530,:
WOW!!! NIC has taken the first major step in moving towards free and open standards. That calls for a celebration :)
Not so fast!!! For example, if you are a part of Debian community and
One can never make a Power(ful)Point enough about importance of freedom.
For example, http://osf.nic.in/openSourceSite/state/kerala/published/osi/OSInitiatives is a document in a non free format.
Mahesh T. Pai wrote:
Ramanraj K said on Thu, Jul 22, 2004 at 05:23:21AM +0530,:
WOW!!! NIC has taken the first major step in moving towards free and open standards. That calls for a celebration :)
Not so fast!!! For example, if you are a part of Debian community and its various mailing lists, you will slowly understand why several of the `Open Source certified' licenses are not `free' enough.
Many members even _here_ don't agree with our ideas about freedom. When some of us ourselves are not yet convinced about why it is important to use "free" rather than "open", I find it hard to believe that we will find success elsewhere. Plain old free software and terminology is good for all of us and we don't need wrappers for it. Unless the "open" advocates open up, discard their wrappers, the freedom within won't be set free.
But *today*, we have a cause for celebration -- summary dismissal of SCO suit against Daimler-Chrysler. Read about it at http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040721122325926
Nice fireworks there!
--- "Mahesh T. Pai" paivakil@vsnl.net wrote:
The National Informatics Centre, has taken the first step towards freedom. and set up a PORTAL - yes, a portal. See http://osf.nic.in/
First, the nitpicks.
They are describing it as the `Open Source' forum, an initiative to address software tools based on `Open Standard' (note the singular)
The first thing which hits you on the face as you open the opening page it that it contains proprietary nonstandard tags (marquee). And images in a non standard format (gif).
The lines below the copyright notice claims to comply with the following standards:
* Section 508 * WAI-AAA * Valid XHTML * Valid CSS * Usable in any browserGreat!!!! Though I have no idea why the Government of _India_ should claim conformance to a law by a foreign sovereign, it certainly is a good idea that out government is getting around to the fact that disabled people are capable of using digital tools.
I feel part of the mistake lies with us,its our duty to correctly project the differences between OSI and Free Software to public.
Ah, the positive side? They have made a beginning; and the failure to recognise the importance of _freedom_ IS bad. They need to switch over to the `freedom' angle.
If you do not understand why the term `free software' should be preferred over the term `Open Source', you should read www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html and www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html
Merely telling someone to read the above urls will not do any good.We should get on stage,in media and guide people to understand the freedom aspect.
As a lawyer, Pai and Ramanraj can shed great light on the legal issue of using the __wrong__ copyright on the web.
If anyone wants to talk on this subject, FSUG-Bangalore will love to arrange one.
TIA
--arky
===== ____________________________________ /\ \ _| Rakesh 'arky' Ambati | | Bangalore (INDIA) | | Homepage: http://arky.port5.com/ | | _______________________________|_ _/_________________________________/
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Rakesh 'arky' Ambati wrote:
I feel part of the mistake lies with us,its our duty to correctly project the differences between OSI and Free Software to public.
Major decisions are being taken by Governments all over the world, to voluntarily adopt using free and open standards and software. This is a spectacular success for RMS, the GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation.
There is a minor hurdle in our path that has to be cleared.
The plain issue is that "Free Software" and "Open Source" are generic terms, which are associated with and promoted by FSF and OSI respectively. The use and association of very appropriate generic terms with incorporated bodies, has been the root cause for much distension. It has become a political issue, and adoption of either terminology is viewed as a success or defeat by opposite camps, and those who wish to maintain neutrality invent new expressions that only cause more confusion. A practical way out of this situation needs to be seriously explored.
SQL initially stood for "Structured Query Language", but soon SQL grew and expanded beyond the scope of a query language, and today, "SQL" simply means "SQL". Many large organisations, after a period of time, are better known by their abbreviated names and Free Software Foundation is no exception: it widely well known by the name FSF. If the organisation is legally known only as FSF Inc, then the branding or association of the generic expression "free software" exclusively with FSF and the GNU project could be avoided. It would become easier to use the expression "free software" to mean the whole gamut of software released under the GPL or like free licenses. Freedom to the expression "Free Software" will enable its assimilation into law with great ease.
The sacrifices done by RMS and FSF through the GNU Project are immense and immeasurable, and it would be painful to ask for anything more, but this could strengthen the roots of the free software movement and so please share your thoughts on this.
Regards, Ramanraj.
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Mahesh T. Pai -
Rakesh 'arky' Ambati -
Ramanraj K