12-R172
2012 -- S 2541
Enacted 04/03/12
S E N A T E R E
S O L U T I O N
URGING STATE
AGENCIES TO CONSIDER USING OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Ruggerio, Goodwin, Metts, and Miller
Date Introduced: February 28, 2012
WHEREAS, Open Source
Software is computer software that is available in source code
form. The source code and certain other rights normally
reserved for copyright holders are
provided under a free software license that permits users to
study, change, improve, and, at times,
also to distribute the software; and
WHEREAS, There are many benefits Open Source Software offers state
agencies,
including reliability, stability, cost, and freedom; and
WHEREAS, In a closed source software environment, when there is a
defect with the
software, delays can come between the venders of the software
and the users who are
experiencing the defect. The delays are due to the defect reports
that need to be filed with the
closed source software. Once filed, a decision needs to be
made by the vendor on whether or not
to issue an update for the software; and
WHEREAS, In an Open
Source Software environment, because of the availability of
source code, a severe or minor defect can be repaired within
a matter of hours of its detection.
Able developers of the Open Source Software are also
able to fix it, as well as report and issue an
update on their own authority. The user of the Open Source
Software can choose whether to use
the update or use the repaired version of the program.
That, in turn, increases the reliability
standard of the Open Source Software; and
WHEREAS, In a closed source environment, as software ages, support
for the software
tends to become unavailable. If there is no compatibility
software released so that the old versions
of the program can be used with updated versions, new,
expensive, and potentially error
strickened software may need to be purchased; and
WHEREAS, In an Open
Source Software environment, the need to constantly purchase
upgraded software is virtually mitigated because the source
code is easily assessable. As newer
Open Source Software is released, so are compatible
drivers for the old software, so that the old
software can keep operating and the user once again has a
choice to upgrade to the newer version;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to
having to purchase newer programs in a closed source
software environment, an agency may have to purchase multiple
licenses for the program to be
installed in multiple computers. This can become extremely costly;
and
WHEREAS, In an Open
Source Software environment, much of the software is available
for free, and the need to purchase multiple licenses for
multiple installations is eliminated; and
WHEREAS,
costs and increasing efficiencies; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED
That this Senate of the State of
hereby urges all state agencies to consider using Open
Source Software to support their
operations; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of the State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed
to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to
all directors of
and departments.
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LC01898
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