Software Freedom Labs ⌨

All the software we use is fully-free software. Our computers run GNU/Linux — the GNU operating system with the Linux kernel. ¹

We look for service providers that use and offer technical support for free software. Two that we're particularly fond of are Rsync.net for off-site backup, and GPLHost for web server hosting.

We value the pioneering work of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) so we contribute through membership fees.

The custom software we write is provided to our customers under a free software license. This gives them the freedom to use, share and modify the software as they please. In contrast to most developers, we celebrate this freedom, rather than seeing it as a threat.

The web and database applications we develop have a strong focus on being simple and easy for visitors to use. We pride ourselves on creating high-quality, standards-compliant interfaces to these applications. Among our favoured free software development tools are the Python programming language and the Django Web framework.

For larger projects, we work with the amazing folks at Boojum. Major clients include the Department of Education and Bicycle Victoria.

We actively encourage and teach customers about the benefits of free software. Our goal here is to help them value freedom and be confident in demanding it from their software suppliers. We help customers express the benefits of free software to their decision makers in terms that they can understand.

Thorough planning helps avoid problems when transitioning to free software. We help select appropriate applications and operating systems, train staff/students, migrate data and provide on-going support.

Choosing hardware that is supported by free software drivers requires a significant amount of research. Often the tiny details such as chipset and hardware revisions can make all the difference. We have a good deal of experience with the detective work involved.

For Software Freedom Day, Ben gave a talk entitled "Why is Free Software important?". This non-technical talk discussed the ethical problems of proprietary software and introduced free software as a better alternative.

• Additional information handout (PDF)

Freeing geographical data and maps.

We contribute to OpenStreetMap by extending the map around our favourite places. This includes mapping the entire town of Ararat by bicycle. We also donate to this project.

Freeing the mobile phone.

The Openmoko Neo FreeRunner is a mobile phone first; a phone running free software. Although the phone is currently considered a developer-only product, ours is in active use. In a world full of restrictive phones, this is a very exciting device.

Image from Wikipedia — licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0.

Freeing education.

The One Laptop Per Child project is a technology project that's not really about the technology. The project aims to empower children all over the world with educational tools and knowledge. The project has developed a durable and cost-effective computing device called the XO and distributed it to disadvantaged children all over the world.

Another reason we're excited about this project is that the device uses free software, including a free software BIOS. ²

We support the project through the purchase of a development machine through the "Give on, Get one" program. A second machine is given to a child.

A fully-free GNU/Linux distribution

Unfortunately, many people and companies who distribute GNU/Linux software add proprietary extras. We disapprove of this practice and choose gNewSense, a distribution based on the Ubuntu distribution, but with all the non-free software components removed.

Free software social networking.

Mainstream social networking services are highly restrictive. They use proprietary software and give users very little control over their own data. Identi.ca is a leader in free network services. We are regular users of Identi.ca.