OPEN SOURCE

SOFTWARE

UVCI

Dr. KOUADIO/UVCI

3.0
 Table des
matières

I - Objectifs 3

II - OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE 4

1. TYPES OF OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE ................................................................................ 4

2. TEXT 1: PROFILING OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE .............................................................. 4

3. Exercice ........................................................................................................................................ 5

4. Exercice ........................................................................................................................................ 6

5. Exercice ........................................................................................................................................ 6

6. Exercice ........................................................................................................................................ 7

7. Exercice ......................................................................................................................................... 7

8. Exercice ......................................................................................................................................... 7

9. Exercice ......................................................................................................................................... 7

10. Exercice ....................................................................................................................................... 8

11. Exercice ....................................................................................................................................... 8

12. Exercice ....................................................................................................................................... 8

III - LISTENING 9

1. Exercice ......................................................................................................................................... 9

2. Exercice ......................................................................................................................................... 9

3. Exercice ......................................................................................................................................... 9

4. Exercice ........................................................................................................................................ 9

IV - LANGUAGE SPOT 10

1. EXPRESSING CONTRAST ...................................................................................................... 10

2. expressing contrast ..................................................................................................................... 10

3. PRODUCTION PHASE ............................................................................................................ 12

3.1. Exercice ................................................................................................................................................ 12
 Objectifs

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

-identify types of open source software
-identify pros and cons of the use of open source software
-make contrast
-answer reading and listening questions for comprehension

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 OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

OPEN SOURCE
SOFTWARE I

1. TYPES OF OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

There are two types of open software:
• Project/Community open source is developed and managed by a distributed community of
developers who cooperatively improve and support the source code without remuneration. These
projects may be copyrighted by the contributors directly but larger projects are typically run by
non-profit foundations. Well-known examples of community open source projects are Linux and
Apache Web Server.
• Commercial Open Source Software, or COSS, is distinguished by open source software of which the
full copyright, patents and trademarks are controlled by a single entity. The owner only accepts code
contributions if the contributor transfers copyright of the code to this entity. They may distribute
their software for free or a fee.

2. TEXT 1: PROFILING OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

Open-Source Software are first free to try before purchasing them. Second, users of open-source
software receive free support, an online community shares experience and views. Third, open
standards of communication protocols and data formats are offered to users of open-source software.
Fourth, with open-source software, there are fewer bugs and users can fix them very fast. Fifth,
Open-source software are really secured since codes are available to users. Sixth, improvements and
updates are added on a daily basis so that users are not limited by the activities of a vendor.
Nevertheless, open-source software have drawbacks. First, if an enterprise is also a software vendor,
then building products on open source code affects
the revenue model for the enterprise's software depending on the open source licensing agreement.
Also, an organization's core competency could be partially diluted if the value of the proprietary code
built on top of the open source platform is not enough to prevent competitors from building a similar
product on top of the same open source code.
Second, in case of a serious problem in an enterprise about a software, fast and detailed solutions
cannot be available when the software the enterprise uses is open-source.
Third, open-source software are not as easy to use as proprietary ones since the first ones are
complex packages difficult enough for unexperienced users.
Fourth, providers of open-source software are not compelled to bring assistance in the long run. The
developers may stop activities when a user need the software most.

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 OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

3. Exercice
Fill in the gaps with the right heading for each paragraph
open standards --- better security --- free support --- avoids vendor lock-in --- fewer bugs and faster
fixes --- free to try before you buy
Pros of Open-Source Software
1- free to try before you buy
Community open source is completely free to anyone to download, including source code, for
evaluation. Even COSS vendors usually have a free version of their software packages, which
includes source code. In fact, much open source software, especially OSs, are available as “live”
media, which means you need not actually install the software but instead run it directly from a
DVD or USB flash drive.
2- free support
Whether an open source package is being evaluated or integrated commercially, it has the same
global community of users and developers available for asking questions and advice. Support
includes detailed documentation, forums, wikis, newsgroups, email lists and live chat. None of this
costs anything except time.
3- open standards
Open source communities are leery of proprietary standards, preferring instead to adhere to open
standards around communication protocols and data formats. This aspect meaningfully improves
interoperability within and between open source and proprietary software including OSs, which in
turn means a high level of interoperability for business and customer applications as well.
4- fewer bugs and faster fixes
Because large open source software projects can literally have millions of eyes examining the source
code, there is a much higher probability that more bugs are exposed compared to the code from a
proprietary vendor with a far smaller development staff. Furthermore, open source communities are
typically quick to implement a fix or report a workaround. Additionally, since the source code comes
with the software, customers are free to apply their own patches at will.
5- better security
A side effect of the above point is that open source software is more secure overall. Since the
security of proprietary software vendors depends to some extent on their source code being opaque,
it does not follow that security bugs are not present in their software. It is more probable that the
security holes have simply not been found yet.
6- avoids vendor lock-in
Except in the case of COSS, there is minimal reliance on a single vendor or group for continued
improvements, maintenance and support for open source software. Additionally, since the open
source community is distributed and diverse, there is little risk that you will end up holding
orphaned software, which would be the case if the proprietary vendor were to fold or abandon their
project.

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 OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

4. Exercice
Fill in the gaps with the right heading for each paragraph:
increased business risk --- minimal support leverage ----reduced competitive advantage ---- usability
CONS OF OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE
1- reduced competitive advantage
If an enterprise is also a software vendor, then building products on open source code affects the
revenue model for the enterprise's software depending on the open source licensing agreement. Also,
an organization's core competency could be partially diluted if the value of the proprietary code
built on top of the open source platform is not enough to offset the lowered barrier to entry of
competitors that could build a similar product on top of the same open source code.
2- minimal support leverage
Large open source projects have a vast, supportive community that provides documentation, tools
and support systems to back up users of the software. Free support is not always the fastest
support, however, especially if the enterprise is seeking a solution to a thorny problem resulting
from seemingly random code bugs, design flaws or integration difficulties. Larger enterprises with
the ability to pay for top-tier support packages can expect prompt and detailed attention that is
rarely available from open source communities.
3- usability
Open source projects, even COSS, are complex packages of software that are not as closely aimed at
markets of unskilled end users as is much proprietary software. Unskilled users will never look at the
source code let alone compile it. This aspect explains why open source Apache Web Server is the
leading deployment in data centers, but desktop Linux has barely penetrated the PC market where
alternate, easy-to-use products already exist that do not have to compete based on high performance
metrics.
4- increased business risk
Aside from Red Hat, large financially strong open source software vendors are few and far between.
Although great products may come from smaller, more nimble companies, there is a significantly
higher risk that they will not be there when you need them the most.

5. Exercice
Read the text and find words that go with the ones in the list to make collocations
example:
1-communication protocols
answer: communication protocols
2-open source
3-free support
4-open standards
5-online community

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 OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

6. Exercice
Choose the right phrase to fill in each gap:
communication protocol - - open source - - free support - - open standards - - online community
[open source | online community | open standards | free support] = a virtual community whose
members interact with each other primarily via the internet.
[open source | online community | open standards | free support] = a product with permission to
use its source code, design documents, or content
[open source | online community | open standards | free support] = an assistance given without
any financial contribution
[open source | online community | open standards | free support] = publicly available technologies
with various rights to use associated with it allowing open participation

7. Exercice
What does "them" refer to in the sentence : 'Fourth, with open-source software, there are fewer
bugs and users can fix them very fast'?
open standards

communication protocols

bugs

users

8. Exercice
What does "the first ones" refer to in the sentence 'Third, open-source software are not as easy to
use as proprietary ones since the first ones are complex packages difficult enough for unexperienced
users.'
users

open-source software

solutions

packages

9. Exercice
Which word best defines "basis" in paragraph 1?
base

groundwork

support

frequency

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 OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

10. Exercice
Read the text again and select the sentences that are TRUE :
Open-source software are never sold

free assistance is brought to users of open-source software

fast and detailed solutions is brought to users of open-source software

developers of open-source software keep on bringing solutions to their users in the long run

11. Exercice
Select the right answer:
The text brings out
the benefits and disadvantages of open-source software

a description of open-source software

codes in open-source software

why people develop open-source software

12. Exercice
Select the right answer:
The first disadvantage of using open-source software mentioned in the text is about
code

assistance

finance

ownership

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 LISTENING

LISTENING
II
Listen to the audio then do all the acticities that follow

1. Exercice
Decide if this statement is TRUE or FALSE
Video games that were first played in the US came from Japan
true

false

2. Exercice
Decide if this statement is TRUE or FALSE
Nintendo did not create the first video games console in the US.
true

false

3. Exercice
Decide if this statement is TRUE or FALSE
The console boom started in 1980
true

false

4. Exercice
listen to the audio again then complete the following passage with words from the audio
The console boom started in 1980 when Atari released the “Atari 2600” game console. Atari had a
brilliant gimmick for its sales campaign. It included a free copy of the game “Space Invaders” with
every Atari 2600. Space Invaders was extremely popular at arcades at this time so consumers were
excited to be able to play it in their homes. As a result, Atari 2600 sales skyrocketed . Other
companies jumped in to the video game console market and produced their own consoles for sale.
Home computers such as the Commodore and the Apple series were also becoming popular because
they could play games and use other kinds of software . Video game consoles and personal
computers were in nearly every North American home in the early 1980s. Although the market for
video games had reached the saturation point , many companies ignored this reality and kept
manufacturing consoles and new games at breakneck speed. A collapse was imminent.

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 LANGUAGE SPOT

LANGUAGE SPOT
III
1. EXPRESSING CONTRAST
ALTHOUGH

Let's consider the sentence from the text :

Although a small percentage of e-waste is recycled, most of it goes to landfills and incinerators.
The conjonction "although" introduces an idea of opposition. Although can be replaced by :
-in spite of the fact that;
-despite the fact that,
-notwithstanding the fact that,
-notwithstanding that,
-even though,
-even if,
-for all that,
-while,
-whilst
Then, the sentence : "although the sun was shining it wasn't that warm" is similar to " Even though
the sun was shining, it wasn't that warm."
If we want to express two opposing ideas in a single sentence, we use conjonctions like although or
but or nevertheless. The position of the conjonctions varies.
examples :
Although the climate is dramatically changing, leaders refuse to take measures.
The climate is dramatically changing but leaders refuse to take measures.
The climate is dramatically changing nevertheless leaders refuse to take measures.

2. expressing contrast
Exercice 1 : rewrite this sentence using the suggested conjonction
Even if she is young, she is very smart. (Nevertheless)

Exercice 2 : rewrite this sentence using the suggested conjonction

He has good grades, on the contrary he is lazy. (Despite the fact that)

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 LANGUAGE SPOT

Exercice 3 : rewrite this sentence using the suggested conjonction

While he works well, he spends too much time chatting. (On the contrary)

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 LANGUAGE SPOT

3. PRODUCTION PHASE
3.1. Exercice
Writing
Open source software involve various advantages. Mention some and write about an open source software
you and your group members (7 members) would like to develop so that to make other people benefit
freely from your invention. Send your 10-line paragraph at: [email protected]

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