FOSS (free and open source software)
Why FOSS?
We want to introduce software and systems into communities that they will be able to use after we have gone.PBB keeps an open mind on which technologies will be appropriate for use in communities in the Pacific region. However, having explored options for software to use, we are inclining towards the use of free and open source software wherever possible. The reasons for this are philosophical and practical.
Philosophical reasons for FOSS use
- independance from influence of multinational software developers and complex software solutions
- an online community of software developers and users which can extend into communities in a organic fashion via mentoring and self-learning
- attitudes of self-help rather than reliance on professional experts
Practical reasons for FOSS use
- a huge range of software available at no cost
- software bundled in a typical distribution (eg. Ubuntu) can be used for wide range of purposes
- complex tasks break down into a series of achievable steps, facilitating self-learning
- many programs available for Windows and Macintosh platforms in addition to Linux
- programs can be upgraded without cost via the internet or legal copying
- operating systems work on most existing hardware (eg. old Windows machines) allowing effective reuse of older computers
- threats from computer viruses and other attacks are much less with Linux desktop than Windows
The Linux desktop
The best way to use FOSS is by installing a linux system on your PC. These systems are produced by different linux communities and each one is called a distribution.
PBB has been using the Ubuntu linux distribution, but we are open to the possibilities offered by others. Most distributions come with a very large range of software built in, and much useful work can be done with this alone. Other programs can be installed, usually easily, by downloading them over the internet, or getting them from a DVD, or from someone else who has them (copying is legal in this case).
These systems have a built in desktop, just like MS Windows and Mac. Most of the programs you are used to using, such as email clients, word processors, drawing programs etc. are included (Open Office replaces Microsoft Office).
Media programs in Linux
Since PBB specialises in media production, we are looking at Ubuntu in terms of its media handling capabilities.
Most of the programs required for media handling have to be added to the basic Ubuntu distribution. The areas of interest to us are:
- audio recording
- image editing
- video uploading (from movie camera)
- video conversion and editing
- audio conversion and editing
- dvd production
- animation
- movie subtitles
- multimedia
For each of these areas, there are several linux programs available. Not all programs are equally effective. A major issue is sorting out which programs are worth spending time learning.
The programs that PBB has decided to commit time to learning are summarised in the table below. The list is not final, especially as new programs are created all the time.
| Media area | Programs |
| Audio recording |
Sound recorder Audacity |
| Image editing | GIMP |
| Video uploading | DVgrab |
| Video conversion | ffmpeg |
| Video editing | Cinelerra |
| Audio conversion | ffmpeg Audacity |
| Audio editing | Audacity |
| DVD production | DeVeDe |
| Animation | |
| Subtitles | Gnome subtitles |