The FSF (Free Software Foundation) October 4 turns 30. Held in Boston and Berlin for Saturday, October 3 different events. But what is it and what does the FSF in the US? What plans does the FSF Europe? Interview with Alessandro Rubini, vice president of the Foundation in Europe
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Today Linux (Android) has spread worldwide. Many use devices without wondering how they work, others are unaware of how to run systems at the base of modern communication. The engagement to talk about free software, starting from Android and Linux is necessary to understand the enormous scope of a discussion that addresses the issue of software generally, and software released under GNU / GPL, because things are invented by the FSF. But not everyone knows. Is this correct?
Yes, correct. The free software movement was founded by Richard Stallman, who later founded the Free Software Foundation as a legal reality to heed the interests of developers and users of free software. The GNU / GPL license, drawn up by the FSF, is one that has established itself as a reference to exploit the copyright as a tool to assign exclusive rights instead of fencing. Version 2 of the GPL, 1991, is also the one adopted by the Linux kernel, although Linus Torvalds and other authors of Linux does not fully embrace the policy of the FSF.
An important feature of free software licenses is not prejudice the commercial code, which is why Linux and other packages are inside of mobile phones; but also MacOSX (and iOS) are based on a free, FreeBSD, even if the license taken from FreeBSD is of a different type.
For these and other reasons, it is safe to say now that free software is the basis of our entire IT structure.
Why Free Your Android campaign: What are Replicant and CyanogenMod and why install these ROMs?
are two complete software packages that can be installed on some phones (unfortunately not all), instead of the default version of Android. Their characteristic is that it is entirely free software; the user is then guaranteed against predatory policies or invasive of privacy by the “master” of the operating system. But this is still a fairly niche phenomenon: the goodwill of those who work there is limited and does not allow the promotion of a large scale; but the offer can only grow if there is demand, so I hope that this will improve over time.
But it does not completely convert your phone to enjoy the benefits of free software. Many applications are available on f-droid.org (“f” as “free”) and can also be installed without completely replacing the software in your phone, for example, the application uses the database OsmAnd Open Street Map for navigation even offline respecting the privacy of users.
Obviously you can contribute, both all’appllicazione both the cartographic base, and for cyclists is already activated map fountains.
You have been elected vice president of the FSF Europe for a few days: what are the common tasks and the differences with the FSF in Boston founded by Richard Stallman?
Both organizations promoting free software. The differences depend mainly on the different cultural context; European associations usually have a more democratic and seek to have numerous partners at the base, we are also more likely to talk with the political forces of all colors while in the United States, perhaps because of bipartisanship pushed, activists normally prefer not have relations with politics.
There is a law in Italy which requires the Pa to prefer free software where possible: it is pending or rejected? There is a recent case of adoption by the Defense LibreOffice
is normally disregarded, because hardly one who chooses the company monopolist in one area can be reprimanded, however things go. Those who follow the directions of our Government Code, for the independence of the Public Administration and of our balance of payments is often fingered as responsible in the event of even minor problems. Make moves counter is never easy; the issue of free software is cultural: only when we understand that knowledge is wealth distributed and that the same solutions can come from different suppliers, even where the larger pieces have the strongest voice, there will be the real competition on the technical and social choices.
Ratification with the Ministry of Defense is an important step, because it is the right choice for the country, as accompanied by training for people already accustomed to other systems. This is not the first Italian public administration using LibreOffice but it certainly is the first massive migration at national level.
In addition to the Free Software also speaks now of Open Hardware (vd. Arduino). As industry in Europe and in Italy he dedicated to this issue? I think
Arduino is a really very good in teaching, because along with other automation systems based on software and hardware have a free little ‘revived hobby electronics and satisfy the desire of knowledge in the field. In industry, however, it is negligible.
But hardware alone is not free Arduino: there are different realities that are doing very much to global technological progress.
Many research centers publish, by mandate, all what carry inside, with strong repercussions on the industry.
I’m thinking for example at CERN, who drafted one of the licenses of copyright more used in the industry but also to other centers. A group of Berkeley researchers has developed a new processor, RISC V, of which begin to be available as a physical chip realizations, as well as various implementations for programmable logic; and it’s all free hardware. Every year there is a European conference on this subject (this year on 9-11 October in Geneva) and the achievements made in that forum are truly remarkable. Of course, this is about companies that operate with low margins and lack the strength of advertising who has these numbers to form public opinion and do lobbying at the political level.
Here too, then, there is everything a world that is moving and there are big opportunities for development and innovation, but for now, unbeknownst to many potential users.
A world connected by social networks: the FSF did an appeal not to join Facebook: she shares? There are alternatives to social networks more?
I personally believe that every means of communication has its flaws, but as a means of communication can not be completely negative. Unfamiliar social network because I think they are a profitable use of my time in the form pseudonymous after trying to understand how it works, but do not rule out change your mind.
There are, however, alternatives to the most known, but have not chance of success as long as all media, even public ones like RAI, continue to advertise on Facebook and Twitter (and it pains me to call them by name). But
suits social networks have the “network effect” (in fact): There are more users and more users are encouraged to enter. What you really need is a set of standard protocols to interact with, a bit ‘like email, for which I can choose my service provider among many but also XMPP, IRC and others less well known, such as GNU Social, an attempt at social network federated rather than centralized. But one of the problems of these systems is sustainability: the large offer free services that we pay with our data and our look at advertising that is donated; small, though careful to privacy, must find other sources of income.
Stallman’s FSF as Torvalds is Linux?
: each founder of its reality . I remember, however, that Linux is only the kernel, the core of the operating system. A complete system contains much more, in which a part was written by Stallman himself.
You have government grants in the FSF Europe?
No. We are an independent organization, we support due to the shares of supporters and donations of companies in the sector, in addition to selling gadgets mainly shirts. In the past we participated in European calls for consortia of companies, to work on specific projects related to the dissemination of technical achievements free.
You are volunteers, the FSF; those in Italy? None
full time. One hundred members and supporters a working group of a dozen people to coordinate activities, follow the legalities of copyright and other things to support initiatives for the freedom of knowledge. But the movement of
Free software is not only FSFE: in Italy there are more than one hundred local groups active in the promotion of free software, an association that manages and coordinates linux.it some national activities, other parallel realities that work for knowledge sharing, by Open Stree Map to Coder Dojo, Wikimedia Libre in Italy.
If it were not for Android phones and Linux-like systems Free Software in general today would only niche? Can you describe that scenario, there would be today in regard to the size of the community of free software developers?
The industry, which prefers the steps forward to throw back, massively uses GNU / Linux for years. Recently a client told me that 80% of telecommunication systems are Linux machines.
Then, a niche, but that productive. The “cloud”, promoted as the solution to all ills, is nothing but a group of people’s computers, which almost all are run free software. Clearly controllers do not want controlled knowing. I choose the computer controller, even though the Public Administration asked me the curriculum in “Doc point format”.
His professional and social life?
use only free software since 1995, I am an electrical engineer and I work in the computer industry companies and research centers, Italian and foreign. I taught “Linux Systems Real-Time” as an adjunct professor for several years. With comPVter, an association of Pavia, we are opening “Zanshin Tech”, a gym digital self-defense for children born in Genoa in the last two years. I still have the handkerchief around his neck.
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