by

Prof. C.N. Krishnan
National Resource Centre for FOSS
AU-KBC Research Centre, Anna University
Chennai

                          Abstract

Freeand open-source software (FOSS) challenges our preconceptions about howsoftware is used, produced and distributed. The software industry todaygenerates yearly revenues in excess of $300 billion. FOSS is softwarethat has made its source code free and public and allows - perhaps evenmotivates - users to change the source code and redistribute thederivative software. While liberating the source code is a goal initself, FOSS encourages, or even obliges, programmers to give otherprogrammers and users those same freedoms and opportunities. 

Today reliable FOSSalternatives are available for almost every requirement addressed bycommercial, proprietary softwares. The benefits of using FOSSapplications are immense as it provides full access to the source codeof application which can be modified as per requirements. Govt. ofIndia  has all along been quite supportive of  the Open Source movementat a broad level, and has   initiated  programs  on promoting opensource software technologies and practices. Former President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has also been a strong supporter of the Open Source movement.

Thistalk will focus on the FOSS alternatives to popular proprietaryapplications to encourage its usage in technical institutes.