Developing Countries Gain from Free/Open-Source Software (Linux Journal) [LWN.net]

Linux Journal looks at a report from Finland that says FLOSS use is increasing around the world for business, education and political needs. "Free software and open source's "inherent qualities" also make it a prime tool for achieving local language educational software, "especially for languages which are not deemed commercially viable for proprietary software vendors". "If the adoption of FLOSS in developing countries is done wisely, it can help stimulate indigenous software industry and create local jobs", says the study."

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What is "FLOSS"?

Posted May 20, 2003 19:29 UTC (Tue) by ctg (guest, #3459) [Link] (4 responses)

I can comprehend "FOSS" being Free/Open Source Software. But what is "FLOSS"?

What is "FLOSS"?

Posted May 20, 2003 19:45 UTC (Tue) by Peter (guest, #1127) [Link]

I can comprehend "FOSS" being Free/Open Source Software. But what is "FLOSS"?

Your guess is as good as mine - the latter being: Free (as in Libre) / Open Source Software.

Either that, or Free Love / Open Source Software.

What is "FLOSS"?

Posted May 20, 2003 19:46 UTC (Tue) by ris (subscriber, #5) [Link]

Free/Libre and Open Source Software

What is "FLOSS"?

Posted May 20, 2003 20:15 UTC (Tue) by jdthood (guest, #4157) [Link]

"Free/Libre and Open Source Software"

What is "FLOSS"?

Posted May 21, 2003 10:59 UTC (Wed) by yosch (guest, #4675) [Link]

I believe the L stands for "Libre" (as in "Logiciel Libre" or "Software Libre"), the French and Spanish translations of the idea of Free (as in Free Software but without the ambiguities of the English term free) and it can also nicely be extended to "Livre" in Portuguese and "Libero" in Italian...

Apart form the fact that it is much more pronouncable than FS/OSS, I like the way this acronym is not excluding anyone, is quite non-controversial and also isn't English-centric.

It's being used in various official places:
http://www.infonomics.nl/FLOSS/
http://www.stanford.edu/group/floss-us/
http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html

And also here:
http://www.flora.ca/floss.shtml
http://wiki.ael.be/index.php/FreeLibreAndOpenSourceSoftware

I think this is a very good way of defining the various aspects of the community with diplomacy but without ethno-centrism.