Advocates of open-source software are looking for a new customer -- the federal government -- for their favorite species of software.
Nearly 900 open-source backers signed an electronic petition in its first 24 hours online late last week. It calls on the federal government to include open-source software products whenever it shops for new technology.
"We the undersigned, users of open-source software and operating systems for business, research, and education, commend evaluation of open-source applications and operating systems by the federal government," the petition reads.
It especially encourages the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service to peruse open-source OSes for PCs, servers, and other systems.
Open source meets or exceeds commercial software standards, the petition says, and would lower the cost of government software for taxpayers, reduce dependence on individual vendors, and secure future improvements to such software without further cost.
Proponents believe wide adoption of the open-source model could lead to much improved software of all kinds. Notable open source examples include the Linux OS and the open version of Netscape's browser, Mozilla.
The underlying code of any open-source product is freely distributed to users and developers for modification. The code can be improved by a global pool of programming talent.
Open-source convert Clay Shirky, a professor at New York City's Hunter College, wrote the petition and used the activist site E-The People to circulate it and gather signatures.
"[We've got] to get the government to put consideration of open-source software on the front burner," Shirky said by email on Sunday.
Friday afternoon, just 24 hours after the petition had been posted, 890 people had signed. Shirky's goal is 10,000 signatures.
As support for the value of open-source software, the petition quoted Microsoft's (MSFT) reference to Linux in its last annual report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Microsoft's operating system products compete with UNIX-based operating systems from a wide range of companies," the 10-K statement said. "...Over the past year the Linux operating system has gained increasing acceptance."
Does petition author Shirky see any negative impact of government adoption of open source software?
One possible outcome is changes made to open source software that are written only to meet obscure or specialized government needs. "At its worst, this could pervert the 'software written to solve a problem' aspect of open source, and produce another iteration of 'software written to win a contract," Shirky said. Such an approach can produce bloatware, he warned.
But even if open source is changed to seek government contracts, open source can always fix itself, he said.
