Home » Posts tagged 'open source' (Page 3)
Tag Archives: open source
DHS-sponsored audit: number of OSS code defects dropping
Coverity, in collaboration with Stanford University and under contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has just released their Open Source Report 2008 (PDF). Their environmental scan of major open source projects found that the number of defects in open source code is dramatically dropping! More detail is available on ArsTechnica.
Now that we have definitive data that shows that open source software is strong on security, how can we get libraries to participate more readily on collaborative open source projects (like citation management, ILSs, CMSs…)? I’m reminded of a thought experiment posted by Joe Lucia, University Librarian @ Villanova University, in November 2007 on the NewGenCatalog list. In his post, Mr. Lucia called for a “shift of those investments from commercial software support (and staff technical support for commercial products) to a collaborative support environment for open source applications.” Come on folks, let’s make this shift happen!
In 2006, Coverity’s scan detected an average of 0.30 defects per 1,000 lines of code, or, put differently, one code defects per every 3,333 lines. The lower boundary, in this case, was 0.02 (one defect per 50,000 lines) and the upper boundary was 1.22 defects per thousand lines of code.
Two years later, the average defect density has fallen to 0.25, or one error per 4,000 lines of code. The upper boundary remains unchanged at 1.22, but the lower boundary has shrunk to 0, implying that repeated scanning has eliminated the errors from at least one program—at least all the errors that Coverity’s 2006 static analysis program was able to detect.
A 16 percent reduction in defect density over two years is a notable gain, and Coverity singled out certain participating projects as having an exceptionally low defect density.
- Postfix
- Perl
- PHP
- Python
- Samba
Lunchtime listen: Karen Schneider at Code4lib conference
For some reason I just went back to review the keynote given by Karen Schneider — aka Free Range Librarian — at the 2007 Code4Lib conference. I found some really great practical tidbits for talking about open source in libraries as well as some food for thought. So please take the 50 minutes to sit back and enjoy Karen’s most interesting talk. You’ll be glad you did!
Below are some highlights:
- @ the 19min mark…seizing control of the tools we know we need to have and that we can create oursleves…we’re really in a renaissance of librarian-built software for the first time it’s like we’re shaking ourselves awake and really grabbing hold, seizing the day. Librarian-built software begins to restore the balance of power in our profession…
- @27min mark (slide 16), there’s an interesting exchange about open source including stereotypes of open source and how to talk to directors about open source at @ 36min.
- Slide 32 = every library needs a developer
- 48min mark = Q&A from Dan Chudnov discussing free software and Schneider’s over-simplification that there’s no free software. Dan points out that there’s a higher level of conversation about free software that needs to happen.
Open Source isn’t just for Governments — it’s for campuses and libraries too!
We at FGI are big proponents of free and open source software and open document formats for government information because we believe that using such software and formats is the best way to ensure long-term viability, usability, re-usability, and preservability of government information. But two FGI volunteers, James R. Jacobs and Shinjoung Yeo, are actively and successfully promoting open source where they work — at the Stanford Libraries.
- Open source on campus: The Stanford Open Source Lab by Ruth Suehle, Red Hat Magazine (2/12/08).
Over the last few months, open source has gained momentum at Stanford University in the form of the Stanford Open Source Lab. Inspired by groups like the Free Software Foundation, Oregon State University’s Open Source Lab, Drupal, Openflows Community Technology Lab, and MIT’s Open Course Ware, a few people at Stanford decided to band together and dedicate their time and energies to the development of free/open/libre learning and knowledge resources. The vision of the Open Source Lab is to be a nexus on campus for the discussion, advocacy, and technical support of community-based technologies and information systems.
As James notes in the article, their promotion of open source is philosophical as well as technological. As he puts it, "The ideals of the Library intersect closely with those of the open source community. That is, the free flow of and access to information, support by and of a community of interest, open standards, and the necessity for a growing and vibrant public domain to further the goals and interests of the community. Those ideals as well as the example of OSU’s Open Source Lab, led me to the idea of supporting open source at Stanford."
Anniversary of Open Source and the start of Decade One
Happy Anniversary to Open Source! W00t!! Bruce Perens has just published “State of Open Source Message: A New Decade For Open Source.”
The concept of open source has also hit the mainstream of the library world (although there have been many long-time proponents in the oss4lib, web4lib, code4lib communities!) with vendors like LibLime on the exhibits floor and talks about Drupal, Koha, Evergreen, VuFind etc and at ALA’s 2008 midwinter conference. You owe it to yourselves, your libraries and your communities to find out about open source!
On February 9, 1998, I published the Open Source Definition and the public announcement of the Open Source Initiative that Eric Raymond and I were starting. This was the first time that the general public heard what Open Source was about. Friday, February 8 is the last day of Decade Zero of Open Source. Saturday, February 9 is the anniversary of Open Source and the start of Decade One. It’s a computer scientist thing. We always start counting from zero 🙂 …
…Most Open Source today is software being produced by its users, for its users … By participating in Open Source development, users distribute the cost and risk of the development of enabling technology and infrastructure for their businesses. Their profit centers are not tied to software sales, but to some other business. To find them, look to the communities rather than the companies.
Open-Source Search Engine Wikia Search
Check out the new search engine wikia search! It is not only the newest search engine on the block, but also new (and I believe unique) in its values (see Wikia Search Alpha Launched January 7, 2008):
- Transparency – Openness in how the systems and algorithms operate, both in the form of open source licenses and open content + APIs.
- Community – Everyone is able to contribute in some way (as individuals or entire organizations), strong social and community focus.
- Quality – Significantly improve the relevancy and accuracy of search results and the searching experience.
- Privacy – Must be protected, do not store or transmit any identifying data.
Plus, building on the approach that has made Wikipedia so successful, it allows users to enhance the search engine by contributing to "mini articles" on search terms that will provide short definitions of terms, help disambiguate similar or identical terms, and provide photos and "see also" references.
Here is the NYT coverage: Wiki Citizens Taking on a New Area: Searching By MIGUEL HELFT Published: January 7, 2008.
Latest Comments