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The State of Linux: Thought on its Use
by Greg Dean

I recently attended the RedHat Linux Road Tour seminar, at the University of the Sciences in West Philadelphia, which was advertised as a search to “discover the state of Linux in America.” The event consisted of a presentation about the product, followed by a Q-and-A session with the technologists. While at the conference I learned about the freeware Linux system, but I also took the time to think about some of the implications for its use in combating the digital divide.

Linux is a broad group/coalition of computer software programs and applications that provides an alternative to the current two-company Microsoft/Apple operating system hegemony. The appeal of Linux is based on its commitment to what is called open-source technology. “Open-source” is a buzzword you may or may not have heard yet. If you haven’t, you certainly will in the next few years or so, since its use is becoming increasingly popular in the Information Technology field. A general definition of open source is “a method and philosophy for software licensing and distribution designed to encourage use and improvement of software written by volunteers by ensuring that anyone can copy the source code and modify it freely” (http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=open%20source).

By giving the public full access to the code underlying the basic operating system, open-source technology gives systems administrators greater control in customizing and stabilizing their networks, and dispenses with many of the licenses that Microsoft and Apple require to run their operating systems. Network and systems administrators have been generally pleased by the consistency of Linux. If a trouble does occur, however, the open-source technology allows the administrator to make adjustments of his/her own, instead of having to call Microsoft or Apple to send one of their employees to fix the problem. Open-source technology products, such as the RedHat Linux Operating System, do not require a user to hold a license to put the product on his/her machine. Conversely, when you install Microsoft Windows, a fairly expensive program for struggling institutions or individuals, you need to have a registration number to install it.

By increasing the public’s control and ownership of technology through open-source, Linux has fundamentally changed the way that technology can be used in the non-profit field. First of all, it is a very inexpensive way to provide large groups of users with operating systems. Many large corporations have started to use Linux as their network base with great results. In addition, Linux’s communal ethos of sharing knowledge and developing ideas in tandem with the public meshes well with grassroots efforts to devise new ways of combating the digital divide.

While the ideals of collaboration and public ownership of the open source community are refreshing, it is important that the general public is informed about the possibilities of its use. Unfortunately, the seminar referred to above included an almost entirely homogenous audience. Of the seventy people in attendance, about ninety percent were white, and only two were women. It is important to note that this event was held in one of the more ethnically diverse, highly educated and centrally located parts of Philadelphia, not in a suburban enclave or a secluded neighborhood in the outskirts of the city.

If open-source is going to become a dominant force in bringing equality to the information technology field, it must draw a more diverse base of users and developers to ensure that yet another digital divide does not emerge. Ultimately, open-source technology is a useful tool, but it will require active participation by community members of all walks of life to ensure that the tools are utilized and understood by a diverse group of people. Your students could begin to research this option for their community. In this way, students can begin to bridge the digital divide for current and future generations, while supporting the open-source movement which, if continued, can benefit institutions and people who may be financially disadvantaged.

If you would like to know more about Linux and Open Source technology, the following sites are good places to go for general information:
http://www.linux.com/
http://www.redhat.com/
http://www.opensource.org/ (contains a comprehensive definition of the term “open source”)

The following links address issues regarding Linux/open source in the “real world”:

"Citing Security Risks, U. of California at Santa Barbara Bans Windows 2000 on Residential Network"
http://chronicle.com/free/2002/11/2002110402t.htm

"Is Linux Breaking Microsoft’s Grip?"
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-964310.html