Congress Endorses Open Source For Military 145
A draft defense authorizing act in Congress includes wording plugging open source software. It seems both cost and software security were considerations. This is an important victory for open source. "It's rare to see a concept as technical as open-source software in a federal funding bill. But the House's proposed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (H.R. 5658) includes language that calls for military services to consider open-source software when procuring manned or unmanned aerial vehicles."
Re:authoriation ??? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:authoriation ??? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:oh boy (Score:4, Funny)
now it is great to know that the gov't will want me to release the software i write.
First, that's not what TFA (or even the summary) says. Second, there are a lot of companies writing, documenting, and using open source software. Open source <> "no profit".
our small business is gonna make it, i promise!
I wouldn't exactly call your business "small", Mr Ballmer! ;)
Re:oh boy (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, 'cause that's what this is about -- the government FORCING open source. Try to at least read TFS. And maybe you just need to cut a few more corners before you don't have to worry about your job going to India!
Re:GPL'd software (Score:5, Funny)
If the Government uses open source code that is under the GPL license, and modifies it to include some security or other feature that is considered to be under the umbrella of "National Security", are they required to provide the source code to terrorists so they can attempt to crack it?
Depends. If my company uses OSS in an internal application, I don't have to release the changes back to the public. But, if my company were to distribute a product that uses it we'd have to provide source code.
I'm assuming that the military would not have to release source code in UAV's because they tend to get those products back and therefore it would be an internal product or application. They'd have to release the source for any bombs or missiles though because they are delivering that product to the public.
In other news (Score:5, Funny)
Windows Media player Deluxe.
Re:oh boy (Score:3, Funny)
Hmm, the BSA vs. the military(yes, they use a LOT of Windows boxes and cannot possibly keep track of all those licenses) would be an amusing cage match.
Re:GPL'd software (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Old News (Score:3, Funny)
Also, most military women trim their bush or shave it outright.
Ah, you're confusing Open Source with Open Sores.
Re:GPL'd software (Score:4, Funny)
You must work at Microsoft. Destroying someone is not considered to be analogous to "delivering a product" to someone anywhere else on the planet as far as I am aware ;-)
Re:GPL'd software (Score:3, Funny)
No, you're mistaken. The source for bombs or missles is part of the delivery system, much like the source code in a UPS driver's tablet computer, it is not intended to be consumed by the public. The applicable software is effectively removed from the system upon successful delivery.
Re:oh boy (Score:4, Funny)
Two organization enter..one with heavy firepower.
Yes, I would enjoy watching that.
Re:GPL'd software (Score:4, Funny)