Steve O’Connor writes, Is Open Source too difficult?:

Okay. We have an open source community on Ning. I go to to the wiki and it is Wikispaces. I click on resources and I am delivered to Google sites.

It seems to me that Open Source fails to meet the needs of its own proponents. Or do we have different definitions?

This is an honest question. Discussion?

My response:

Free open source software has different adherents representing various stakeholders. For example, I could easily host a K12 Free Software Moodle with built-in wiki. But then, I’m an ed-tech administrator with access to multiple servers and enjoy the support of my supervisors. But some classroom teachers don’t enjoy those benefits, lack the time to learn how to manage K-16 FOSS solutions, and the authority and/or budget to setup their own servers.

What is important to consider that many commercial ventures have at their foundation, free software. This free software has been customized, revised, and though unrecognizable to the casual visitor, a trained eye can recognize the underlying free software solution.

So, no, FOSS hasn’t failed to meet the needs of its proponents. Rather, it continues to flourish in an environment hostile to freedom–our public schools.

What do you think?

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