UK govt publishes open source guidelines

The UK government wants to dispel some of the myths around open source software, CBR Online reports.

The Cabinet Office has published an open source procurement toolkit in an effort to increase its adoption in the public sector. The toolkit contains information on procuring open source software as well as guides to vendors and what sort of costs are likely to be associated with going down the open source route.

The toolkit contains advice and information about open source software, open source vendors and running costs, Computing notes. It also includes a guidance paper by the CESG, an arm of GCHQ, that covers security matters relating to public sector use of open source software.

The Office said the purpose of the toolkit is to ensure there is a level playing field for open source and proprietary software and that some of the myths associated with open source are dispelled, ZDNet writes.

The toolkit includes six documents: All About Open Source - including FAQs; ICT Advice Note - Procurement of Open Source; Procurement Policy Note on Open Source; OSS Options; CESG Guidance on Open Source (this site will only open for users who have previously registered with a .gsi.gov.uk e-mail address); and Total Cost of Ownership.