Google runs on Open Source, but that's another story....

{apologies for my friday devils advocate mood!}





Heather Peake <[log in to unmask]>@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> on 14/10/2005
15:48:26

Please respond to Virtual Learning Environments <[log in to unmask]>

Sent by:    Virtual Learning Environments <[log in to unmask]>


To:    [log in to unmask]
cc:
Subject:    Re: open source, open standards, free


Then of course you could get stung with the 'out of the box' product
that doesn't actually do 'what it says on the tin' where the licence fee
for larger institutions is astronomical and the delay on fixing issues
is ridiculous and you can't fix it in house (even if someone on your
team has the skills) because you would invalidate the licence agreement.
Out of the box don't always let you have a second install at no extra
cost for 'developing on' and trying out with other in house systems so
that you don't bring the house down at the most inopportune moment.

I'm not saying we should only consider open source, you should consider
whatever works for your establishment, but saying that 'Open Source
isn't 'the' Answer to anything' (see below) is a tad naive, there are
whole rafts of people out there using open source for all sorts of
things - even one of the well known manufacturers of an out of the box
VLE stuck their product on an Apache web server rather than IIS although
I believe (according to their web site) it will now run on IIS. Open
source therefore can be the answer to some things as can, out of the box
solutions. Paying money for it does not necessarily make it better or
worth having.

Best regards

Heather Peake
ILT Development Co-ordinator
West Nottinghamshire College
Tel 01623 627191 ext 2292

-----Original Message-----
From: Amber Thomas [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 October 2005 14:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VLES] open source, open standards, free


Hi

Recent postings on this list and others have highlighted the fact that
open source doesn't necessarily mean free. I think it's worth picking
apart the concepts of open source, open standards and free.

It's not so straightforward ....

*     you could pay for an open source product - pay for the software,
pay for a hosted service, pay for someone to customise it for you
*     an open source product doesn't necessarily conform to open
standards
*     a commercial closed box product can confirm to open standards:
it can interoperate with other systems without you knowing how
*     some commercial solutions will end up cheaper overall that open
source solutions because good programmers cost money


I don't think open source is "the" answer to anything - its all part of
the picture. Its also not right to use taxpayers money to create
products that the commercial world will produce: this is expensive
stuff.

I guess this is where the E-Learning Framework comes in. There's a good
article here (2004 but still useful): "JISC programme to foster the pick
'n mix MLE" http://cetis.ac.uk/content2/20040305162217

If commercial providers have to fit into a bigger framework, then the
open source community can get on with linking things up and creating
things that commercial providers won't or can't.

This needs technical experts in institutions who really know how to
design architectures, integrate systems, stitch interfaces together ...
are there enough of you to go round? :-)

Amber


Amber Thomas
Project Leader
JISC DEL: Promoting Use of Shared Content in the West Midlands
Bredon 76
University of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester
WR2 6AJ

email: [log in to unmask]
mobile: 07913 842421
http://www2.worc.ac.uk/wm-share/

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