Open Source Software (articles to achieve software freedom)

Open Source Software and Software Freedom

Linux is open source software. This means that the community that uses the software also openly contributes to it, and opens the source code for all to see which has more benefits than I can list here. These pages below are my effort to give back to the Linux and open source community, and also to help those that wish to remove the restrictions and spying activities of closed source software.

Hopefully, they will provide a good reference tool for some, and at the same time demonstrate that Linux can do just about anything you can imagine, often times way more than closed source software alternatives. Whether you know it or not, Linux is all around you today, used in small devices to large servers, and offers much more freedom to its users. All information provided has been obtained personally from my years as a systems administrator in multiple environments.

Topics:
Open Source Operating Systems and Software
Desktop Platforms
	Open Source Software vs. Commercial Software: Migration from Windows to Linux An IT Professional's Testimonial I finally sat down one day after years of frustration with Microsoft products. After 12 years in the IT world running both open source and closed source software side by side, I have come to realize that open source wins, and has been in my opinion for a long time. Many businesses and individuals are blindfolded by Windows and do not realize that open source reaps many benefits. Not only from a cost standpoint, but from a bunch of political reasons as well. Many do not realize that Microsoft has been playing the game of vendor lock-in for many years with its customers, is strictly focused on making a profit instead of writing quality software, and in the end the customer loses. With open source, nobody is out to make a profit, and therefore you get quality software that costs nothing. This article goes into vast depth of these concepts and provides supporting reasons and evidence behind them.
	Migrating from Windows to Fedora 10 Linux Common tasks to get a Linux system up and running for those just getting started, and a few tips to get around some common issues on a fresh Fedora installation. I have documented fixes that I needed to put in place, as well as provide some helpful suggestions on software installations and customizing Linux.
Mobile Platforms
	Using Open Source Software on Google (Android) Mobile Devices Maintain Privacy and Freedom Apple and Google control most of today's mobile devices. Unfortunately, over the years as Apple and Google have grown and obtained most of the market share, they have started to enact restrictions and spying activity on devices that run their software. This has grown so much that they are now thought to be even more powerful than certain parts of our federal government. However, there is a solution to fight this behavior, and that is to use open source software that is not owned or controlled by any large tech company. Using a non-Apple or non-Google phone that does not run any proprietary software is difficult to obtain, set up, and may not be a viable option. This guide contains steps to obtain as much freedom as you can by using open source software on Apple (iPhone) and Google (Android) devices.
Server Platforms
	Linux Router and Firewall Setup Why purchase an expensive and locked down hardware router/firewall, when you can set up a Linux computer to act as a router/firewall at a fraction of the cost? Linux provides a very powerful solution which can match functionality and even surpass models by Cisco, Dell, HP, etc. What many people don't even know is that many routers made by Linksys/Cisco run Linux on them. One of the most stable and popular Linksys routers, the WRT54GL, is based on Linux. The system can be upgraded and hardware easily replaced on a Linux router computer because it takes advantage of the modular design of an ordinary PC. My instructions provide the basics for setting up a powerful router/firewall computer using CentOS. This was also tested on a Pentium II 266 computer, which easily handles as a router/firewall.
	Linux Web Content Filter (E2Guardian) Setup with Linksys WRT54GL router How to set up E2Guardian, one of the leading web content filtering solutions that runs on Linux, with a Linksys WRT54GL router running DD-WRT firmware. E2Guardian is a powerful filtering solution and completely customizable, for small home use to corporate use as well. The default Linksys firmware does not have enough capability to interface with an outside web content filter like E2Guardian. This tutorial shows how to set up E2Guardian on a Raspberry Pi, which is ideal due to its low power consumption and stability.
	Open Source Cloud and Social Networking Platforms Maintain Privacy and Freedom of Speech The demand for social networking has grown over the years, and even more so in recent times. Companies like Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and Google have encountered huge growth with users in the numbers of millions. Unfortunately with this massive growth, these same companies have started to leverage their user base to censor and block content, even for political reasons. Luckily, there is a vast number of open source alternative platforms available, to provide the same experience, but without limitations and dangers of big tech.
Miscellaneous
	The Linux Store Show your Linux pride! This CafePress store has everything from t-shirts, sweatshirts, clocks, mugs, you name it. Rare and hard-to-find items with great Linux (anti-Microsoft) gear. Designs in this store were created with Inkscape.