Life

The most talented youth choose open source tools

At my public library job, all day long I help people use the library's public access computers. At the end of a long day's work, I enjoy kicking back and listening to some YouTube music videos. One way I do this is to search YouTube for new Bob Dylan cover songs. I search YouTube for: Bob Dylan cover, this week. » Read more

2 CommentsPosted 13 Dec 2012 by Phil Shapiro

What's your favorite open source phrase?

They're not our favorite movie quotes but I've caught myself saying some of the more popular open source phrases more than once. It might be an analogy that we use to describe what open source is or perhaps a conversation starter. » Read more

32 CommentsPosted 11 Dec 2012 by Jason Hibbets (Red Hat)

Four reasons I like developing with open source code

I have been a developer for a number of years (yes, it’s a large-ish number) and I’ve worked on teams that have developed software on commercial platforms, on teams that have used a mixture of open source and commercial components, and on teams that have used primarily open source. Overall, I’ve developed (no pun intended) a preference for using open source tools and components whenever it’s feasible. Here are some of the reasons why I prefer to develop with open source code: » Read more

0 CommentsPosted 10 Dec 2012 by Glen Bettridge

Homeroaster crafts a pumpkin spice latte the open source way

Coffee, often cited as the second most highly traded commodity in the world, is deeply personal for many. Every coffee drinker has their favorite brand, blend, and brew method. Years ago I considered myself a coffee fan, but the coffee I was drinking was so loaded with cream and sugar that it barely resembled the beverage. I purposefully weened myself off of the additives and learned the unfortunate truth that most coffee served in the United States has gone stale before the consumer reaches for their wallet. After a long search for the freshest cup, I decided to roast my own. » Read more

2 CommentsPosted 7 Dec 2012 by A.Strong (Red Hat)

What Creative Commons and 'copyleft' mean to a designer

I recently graduated in May, and I had not heard of Creative Commons until I came to work at Red Hat. After a few months, I had gained some familiarity with Creative Commons but it was only when I was recently asked to create images for their 10th Anniversary that I realized I had some research to do. » Read more

2 CommentsPosted 7 Dec 2012 by Jenna Slawson

Can open source technology save music?

We are now more than a decade into the technological revolution that turned the music industry upside down. Initially, it felt like there was so much possibility, that the internet might be the great democratizer, that it could empower artists to take more control over their careers, and ultimately allow them to see more of a percentage of income from their music. There have been some success stories, but it seems the vast majority of artists today are struggling even more, making less money yet paying more middlemen.

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1 CommentPosted 6 Dec 2012 by Maggie Vail & Jesse von Doom

Progress of science thanks to software being open source

Over the last months, I became more and more aware of the "open" movement. "Open" as in open access, open source, open data, open science. » Read more

4 CommentsPosted 6 Dec 2012 by Timo Niedermeyer

The open source advantage: Executives learn how to stay competitive

Let's say you're a big company in a competitive industry. One who innovates and succeeds by creating software. Not extending COTS, not adapting existing code. Generating fresh, new code, at your full expense. The value the company receives by investing in the creation of that software is competitive advantage, sometimes known as the profit-motive.

You’re an executive at this company. Creating the software was your idea. You are responsible for the ROI calculations that got the whole thing off the ground. » Read more

1 CommentPosted 5 Dec 2012 by Jeremy Eder (Red Hat)

A code hosting comparison for open source projects

If you're starting a new open source project, or open sourcing some existing code, you'll need a publicly accessible location for the version control system holding your code (if you're not planning on setting up a publicly accessible VCS, reconsider; no public source control is a red flag to potential contributors). You could set up your own repository hosting, but with so many companies and groups offering existing setups and services, why not use one of those and save yourself some time? Here's an overview of some of the more popular options.

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6 CommentsPosted 4 Dec 2012 by James Bowes (Red Hat)

Which gadget are you most likely to give for the holidays?

It's getting really close to the holidays. Hopefully you've seen our gift guide and giveaway, and we'd love to know which gadgets you're most excited about. » Read more

6 CommentsPosted 4 Dec 2012 by Casey Brown