The revolution of free computer software

• Gérard BERRY
  Research director, Ecole des mines
  
• Bernard LANG
  Research director, INRIA, Secretary of AFUL (Association Francophone des Utilisateurs de Linux et des logiciels libres : French association for Linux users and free computer software)
  
• Roberto DI COSMO
  Assistant professor, Ecole normale supérieure ; co-author of "Le hold-up planétaire: La face cachée de Microsoft"
  
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Summary

Microsoft is currently in the hot seat. The press constantly publishes stories of the crusade directed against its monopoly, and at the same time, promotes free computer software or 'free-ware'. This leads us to suppose that the days of the all-powerful Microsoft are numbered. In order for this to happen, free-ware needs to be considered an attractive alternative for many Microsoft users. However, this is far from the case. Ever since the early days of computing, free-ware developers have remained closeted in their own world, a world of traditional computer scientists who, for the most part, are unaware of the importance of current trends and evolutions. Yet, the system of development of free-ware, its openness and its undeniable level of quality are assets in the search for a real alternative to the present monopoly. There is still much to do to bring this about, but the Internet can help by speeding up the process.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Lucien CLAES.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it for free in French (PDF help) or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference VA050299).

The entire article appears in French in the Journal de l'École de Paris du management N° 19.