summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/2009/opening_closed_domains-fossin2009/notes.txt
blob: 78371f590180b40046669f0bff6b6de978079d59 (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
* foss is successful
** general purpose os kernel
** server space
** networking infrastructure gear
** desktop/workstation use
* what is the common denominator
** (inter)networked computers (PC, mobile data, ...)

* why FOSS
** education
** security (review)
** modification (innovation, rapid prototyping)
** research by anyone
** prevent vendor-lock-in

* everyone writes open source application programs
* isn't that boring after some time?
* there are many areas of coputing where there is no free/open source software at all!
** RFID protocols
** GSM/CDMA/UMTS/... protocols
** DECT protocols

* why those 3 areas?
** communications is vital infrastructure for everyone!
** big interest in verifiable+auditable privacy / security

* why do you think there is no FOSS?
** no open specifications -> WRONG
** too close to hardware -> WRONG (look at softmac wifi drivers!)
** hardware comes without specs -> TRUE, but look at rev-eng'd gfx/wifi drivers!
** too complex -> WRONG (3d graphics, image processing, tcp/ip protocol stack)

* so why is there really no FOSS?
** industry-dominated areas
** hardware/semicon industry, not software industry!
** industry trying to keep customers out and keep their own turf as big as possible
** no understanding of FOSS or the internet/hacker culture!
** chicken-and-egg problem: people know little about protocol, thus are unlikely to write foss.  because there's no foss, little people know about it ->

* why do I care?
** because I use the respective systems
** because I know (and am used to!) the benefits of FOSS for 15 years
** because I don't want to give up my freedom when leaving the PC world

* rfid
** many protocol specifications public at ISO (15693/14443/18000)
** librfid 
** openpcd / openpicc


* dect
** full protocol specification public at ETSI
** http://dedected.org
** Linux kernel DECT stack by Patrick McHardy git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/kaber/dect-2.6.git


* gsm
** full protocol specification public at ETSI/3GPP
** OpenBTS
** OpenBSC
** ongoing efforts on FreeRTOS on Ti Calypso
** ongoing efforts for a documented/open GSM development board


* get involved
** boldly go where no (FOSS) man has gone before
** don't be deterred by people who say it's not possible

* knowledge is power
** educate yourself
** learning by doing

personal git repositories of Harald Welte. Your mileage may vary