Africa has yet to be recorded on the Linux Timeline, a barometer kept to mark the achievements of Linux developers, despite contributions from the continent in recent years.
This is according to Alastair Otter, founder of free software news portal Tectonic, who is encouraging Africa`s developers to contribute Linux landmarks to the timeline. The timeline is being updated to celebrate the kernel`s 15th birthday and Linux Journal`s 150th anniversary.
"At the moment, the timeline ends in August 2002, with none of Africa`s achievements recorded thus far," Otter says.
African landmarks
Otter says there has been significant Linux growth in Africa over the past few years, with SA leading the way, followed closely by Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Namibia and Ivory Coast.
Impi Linux, a representative of Ubuntu, created by Mark Shuttleworth, is a key moment in Africa`s Linux movement, says Otter. "It has created a base for many local developers to participate in what is now the world`s most popular version of Linux."
He adds Impi Linux proves Africa is becoming a creator of knowledge as opposed to a pure consumer.
The State IT Agency`s free software tender results announced earlier this year, was another key moment in the South African government`s adoption of a free software cabinet, he says. "It opened the way for Linux vendors to sell their solutions to government."
The African language localisation projects using free software are important landmarks that cannot go unnoticed, he adds. "Projects like Translate.org.za and similar movements in Uganda and Ethiopia have proved that developers in Africa are moulding software to Africa`s needs."
Otter adds the recent Idlelo and Africa Source conferences gave African developers the opportunity to meet and begin to build networks and share skills.
Challenges
Otter says Africa has had to overcome the problems of access, infrastructure, low bandwidth and skills to build on Linux software.
"Linux has traditionally spread through the Internet - from the first release by Linus Torvalds 15 years ago to today`s Linux, which is mostly traded and shared online."
However, notes Otter, Africa has caught on exponentially and is in some ways far ahead of many others in the world, as developers appreciate the proponents of free software are ideally suited to the continent.
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