[IGSTK-Developers] Open Source and US National Interests (DOD Report recommending Open Source)

[Luis Ibanez]

A recent report by the

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense,
Advanced Systems & Concepts

         http://www.acq.osd.mil/asc/

Recommends the use of Open Standards and Open Source
as a mechanism for improving the capabilities of the
Department of Defense.


The report is entitled:
"Open Technology Development Roadmap Plan" (April 2006)
http://www.acq.osd.mil/actd/articles/OTDRoadmapFinal.pdf

---

Here are some excerpts:


------------------------------------
**OTD: Open Technology Development
____________________________________



OSS and open source development methodologies are important
to the National Security and National Interest of the U.S.
for the following reasons:

• Enhances agility of IT industries to more rapidly adapt
   and change to user needed capabilities.

• Strengthens the industrial base by not protecting industry
   from competition. Makes industry more likely to compete on
   ideas and execution versus product lock-in.

• Adoption recognizes a change in our position with regard
   to balance of trade1 of IT.

• Enables DoD to secure the infrastructure and increase
   security by understanding what is actually in the source
   code of software installed in DoD networks.

• Rapidly respond to adversary actions as well as rapid
   changes in the technology industrial base.

This roadmap outlines a plan to implement OTD practices,
policies and procedures within the DoD.


----

Recommendations of the Report include things like:

* This roadmap effort proposes a transition to OTD practices in
   the DoD initially focusing on the projects and activities within
   AS&C. Success is achieved when policies, procedures, requirements
   and practices establish OSS, open interfaces and systems, and
   collaborative technology methodologies as the default baseline.

* Resources and activities will be prioritized on projects
   that demonstrate the advantages of the new approach and
   allow open source methodologies and practices to flourish.

* Projects will be encouraged to engage “non-traditional”
   OSS companies and communities for implementation expertise.

* AS&C will implement financial incentives to participating
   projects and participating contractors.

* Project Support: provide a minimum level of project support
   (web-hosting, etc.).

* Create Open source repositories within DoD programs and projects

* Leverage of external Open Source resources into the
   infrastructure and programs

* Create DoD guidance group for how to use, reuse and
   develop OS software and hardware

* Plan for DoD open source conference/meeting

* Create champions list, public-private — people,
   companies, Congress

* OTD requires a shift from emphasis on intellectual property
   and products to professional services and open collaboration.

* The government will place emphasis on a business model
   transition study that encourages the new practices.

* Approve and Fund an OTD Strike Team (within DoD)

* Bring in outside open source domain expertise to perform
   critical support and modification functions on open
   technologies with the support of existing project teams.

* Establish Review gates, policies and processes to reinforce
   the new behavior for the FY07 approval cycle.


----

A table of criteria for measuring maturity of Open Source
projects is presented in page 73. It includes items such as
Age, Popularity, Multiplatform Support, Momentum, Design
Quality, Setup cost, End-user support.