Last week I asked my students to blog about Open Source application. This week I figured I’d write my own to not only share my understanding of it but to also share some of my favorite (free) educational software.
Before we get to the software let me first explain what Open Source is and how it differs from free and proprietary applications.
The Open Source (here’s the annotated version for better explanation of each) official definition is:
- Free redistribution
- Source Code
- Derived Works
- Integrity of the Author’s Source Code
- No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
- No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
- Distribution of License
- License Must Not Be Specific to a Product
- License Must Not Restrict Other Software
- License Must Be Technology-Neutral
To be considered open source a piece of software needs to comply with all the above. While the first definition has the word “free”, open source is not the same as free application or what we mostly see/hear as freeware. One obvious difference between the two is that a freeware doesn’t come with a source code that we all can tweak. One example of a free software is MSN Messenger. There’s no cost to use it but you’d probably have to work for Microsoft, in that MSN chat division as a programmer, to get your hands on the code… or hack into it which is of course illegal.
On top of that, Microsoft’s lawyer would most likely come after you if you try to giveaway MSN Messenger with this awesome web browser that you built from scratch – even if didn’t change anything on the Messenger software and you’ve given Microsoft all the proper credit in your software bundle.
So how is the open/closeness of the code that differentiate open source with freeware? Although it’s definitely not proprietary (paid and closed code, e.g. Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Pro) and many are totally free one can make money from open source applications. The different ways of doing this are through service/support. upgrades, and selling add-ons. Whichever way it is to make a few dollars, the software/template/module upgrade/add-on has to fit the licensing that the original open source application is using. Drupal, an open source content management system, has a great licensing explanation if you’re interested in learning more how licensing effects everything related to an open source application.
Licensing you say? Yes, even free and open source applications are licensed – we all need set rules to follow to lessen tension and be able to focus more on collaborative work, right? To make things more complicated there are not just one or two to choose from but over 50 different licenses approved by the Open Source Initiative! If you’re curious which of the licenses are used more check out Black Duck’s 20 most commonly used open source licenses base on information from its knowledge base.
Before I go on, let me give you some examples of the not so free part of open source. Redhat Linux sells service and support despite Linux being free and open source. AtMail has an upgraded version for the commercial folks. Joomla is a content management system. There are many components, modules, and themes that you can add to it. While many are free some are paid. I’ve paid for one myself although the module first came out as a freebie.
Now, some people might think that one needs to be a computer whiz to use an open source application. NO!! This not true at all. My first grader can use many of the open source applications available! Many functions just like any other free/paid software. You download, install on your computer, open and use/figure out how to use. Although you do have access to the code and you are allowed to modify it doesn’t mean you have to.
Now the fun part! This is where I share some useful (free) open source and freeware applications. NOTE: This is just a short list.
Open Source
- PortableApps (PC): With this thing one can carry 100+ open and free software on a USB drive (or anything that works like a portable drive, iPod for example). Imagine students having this tool… they can’t say they don’t have the software at home!! I’ve used PortableApps on locked computer labs, Internet kiosk overseas and hotel business stations. I could edit my photos using Gimp (note that there’s a more Photoshop-ish Gimp called Gimpshop – just found this out from my student!), add it to my website using NVU and transfer all the new stuff online with Filezilla. Oh, while I do all that I can use Skype to chat with my family. If my mother-in-law’s with me, she can kill time by playing Sudoku!In all honesty I can just list PortableApps and be done with this list but I’ll go on and highlight some already in PortableApps and a few more…
- The Mozilla family (Multi-platform): Firefox, Thunderbird, and more.
- Zotero: It’s a Firefox plug-in and wish I had it when I was working on my thesis and other papers!
- OpenOffice (Multi-platform) and NeoOffice (Mac): Office suit similar to Microsoft Office.
- Moodle: A course management system. Blackboard or Angel is a paid CMS while Moodle is free and open.
- OpenSis: Integrates with Moodle, makes Moodle as wonderful as some paid CMS. Gradebook, health record, demographic, contact, scheduling, parent portal, report card, transcript, and more!
- 7-Zip (PC/Linux) Keka (Mac): Zip and unzip folders.
- JEdit and BlueFish (Multi-platform): Text editors, for programmers too.
- Inkscape (Multi-platform): An illustrator application. I use this with my die-cut machine which I use when I scrapbook.
- Blender (Multi-platform): A 3D application. I was suppose to use this when I was working with Second Life but then I just had to accept that I’m not that great of an artist
- Pencil (Multi-platform): A Sketching software — I only dream I can do something nice with this thing!
- Scribus (Multi-platform: Desktop publishing application
- Freemind (Multi-platform): Mindmapping tool
- Edubuntu: The free operating system for education and kids. It’s Linux customized for the young users.
- VLC (Multi-platform) and Miro (Mac): Video players although VLC plays audio too
- Audacity (Multi-platform) and Lame (multi-platform): Audio recorder. You need Lame to save to .mp3 format.
Freeware
- TextWrangler (Mac): General purpose text editor which I love using because it lets me see, open and edit hidden files on my Mac.
- CamStudio (PC): Create screencast using this tool
- Classroom Gradebook: A grading application
- Adobe Acrobat: Reads pdf files
- PhotoStory: Even Microsoft have something free
- There are many free apps but at this point I am tired from copying and pasting URL… More on a different post!
As you can see there are many free applications, whether open or not. You don’t need to know how to code or be a computer expert to use 95% of the above applications! For more, visit SchoolForge and if you haven’t had enough and want to get your school to use open source goodies do visit the Open Tech site for teachers. It’s got LOTS of great info!!
