IT experts urge open source system

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 26:

The first day of the conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which is being organised as part of the on-going CAN Infotech—2005 saw papers on Open Source System (OSS) and Information Technology Outsourcing and E-transaction.

The OSS, which is widely practiced in developed countries, is still merely a shadow in Nepal. Paper presenters on OSS stressed on the need to use OSS to discourage piracy of software.

The open source concept provides users access for programming codes so that users can modify software as per needs. This will also help in the development of local IT market, providing job opportunities, speakers opined. Aman Gurung of Nepali Language computing Project, Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya said that OSS helps create environment to develop various kinds of researches inside itself.

“In most developed countries, the governmental sector is the largest user of IT. However this has not been observed in Nepal. The lower rate of penetration of IT, affordability and lack of localisation of software have hampered IT growth,” he said. OSS contributes in reducing dependency and provides interoperability, Gurung said.

Sajan Sangraula, presenting a paper on ‘OSS for Developing Economics’, said the open source supports in anti- piracy campaign. The investment in OSS will provide opportunities to local manpower. The OSS will help update advancement with ease,” he said.