Open Source Africa

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WHY FREE SOFTWARE?
Read the Introduction to FOSS or have a look at the glossary and the FAQ to learn more about the software revolution.

MAKING THE SWITCH
Make the right decisions by reading the FOSS migration and software replacements guides.

FOSS COMMUNITY
Find an expert, a support group, or contribute to the FOSS community.

Women promote open source in Africa The Women's Electronic Networking Training Africa event focusses on promoting free open source software amongst non-profit women's groups in Africa. Its reasons for promoting open source include the savings, freedom, security and reliability that FOSS offers. More >> Toolkit for governments moving to free software With more and more African governments and policy makers looking at free and open source software as a viable alternative to proprietary software, Bridges.org today released a research report that looks at the current stat of FOSS usage on the continent and offers some suggestions on how decision makers can evaluate the benefits and pitfalls of switching to free software. More >> OS needs to be ‘loud on delivery’ Many organisations in Southern Africa aren’t yet convinced about going open source, writes Alan Finlay, and the task at hand is to raise awareness and prove the practical benefits of free software for NGOs and small businesses in the region… More >> African women tackle FOSS LinuxChix Africa launches an organisation that will position African women within the open source movement, and empower them to tackle development challenges, says Anna Badimo More >> Understanding intellectual property in Africa A month-long online ICT policy discussion starting this week looks to raise awareness around intellectual property and ICT in in Africa. On the agenda will be free software, copyleft alternatives to traditional property rights and protecting indigenous knowledge, among others. More >> Online NGO and development directory goes live Online database of NGOs and development agencies is made available online by Sangonet. Organisations not yet listed in Prodder database can now register. More >> Localisation toolkit almost set A useful localization toolkit has been developed by CDAC Mumbai and IOSN. While it is still being finalized, it’s available for review online. More >> African free software developers to gather in Uganda Africa Source II, a week-long workshop that will bring together free software developers from across the continent, is to be held in January next year. More >> Looking for an open source alternative? Have a look at the Software Alternatives guide. Joining your local Linux or open source user group is the best - and cheapest - way to get free support. Click here for a list of user groups in your area.	Open Source in Action
	Children enjoy their first moments on a computer at a Shuttworth Foundation sponsored tuXlabs installation.
	Who is using FOSS?
	University switches to Linux In May 2003 the Uganda Martyrs University made the decision to switch to free and open source software on both servers and on the desktop. The migration project has proved highly successful and is now the basis for a user-level guide to using free and open source software. OS in the driver's seat The Namibian Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is using open source software for improving workflows and eliminating fraud. Don't hang up The high start up cost of traditional call centres is being dramatically undercut by an open source software solution, called Asterisk. Kewl education Open source, low-cost , customisable educational solutions make distance learning a reality. Smart Cape libraries The City of Cape Town has introduced Linux -based public access computers into its libraries.
	Open source in the news
	One click monitor power-down for Linux Kickstart your IT business in 2008 Convert video for phones, iPods, DVDs Red Hat appoints TSI-Systems as JBoss partner Power document management for SugarCRM

Vous ne parlez pas Anglais? Nous savons que, pour être vraiment Africain, il faut communiquer dans beaucoup de langues. Nous vous pressons a considerer poster une etudé de cas brévè dans ta langue indigène, a propos du la software libre de vos organisations

Opensourceafrica.org is produced by Open Research and Tectonic