Make all non-classified taxpayer-funded software open source
All software created by or for the government should become open source, a shared resource, since it was paid for by taxpayer money. As should data and literature. Even better would be to use and improve existing open source software.
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kevonh commented
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_cost_of_ownership
Read it, understand it! Do a Cost / Benefit analysis on "open source" migration before proposing it. I'm for lowering government spending, but not without due consideration of all implications. Open Source does not equate to free.
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hoby commented
Even better would be to use eminent domain. When some technologies remain monopolies and stifle competitive innovation, the public should claim them as public interests, free up the source and distribution.
Market bullies would then have to share, sink or swim in life as a transparent public interest. Competition would stay fairer and more creative by whatever rises to the top of markets.
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DCdawg commented
Not possible. A government accounting system cannot be made with open source products. There isn't an open source document management system. You have to think bigger than what is on your desktop!
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DCdawg commented
Not possible. A government accounting system cannot be made with open source products. There isn't an open source document management system. You have to think bigger than what is on your desktop!
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psikeyhackr commented
That sounds reasonable.
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gbear14275 commented
Government software with unlimited rights (see http://www.arnet.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2027_4.html#wp1044879) and distribution A (see http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/submit/guidance/distribstatement.html) is available to the public. However, this software is rare as government funded software is usually special purpose with little/no public value... hence why government had to pay to develop it.
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SluggerOToole commented
I love the idea of government diverting money that would normally be spent on licensing to the development of open source projects. The end result could be usable software for the government and improved open source software for everyone.