Open Source Software
Sustainable software options
Think sustainability. What is the first thing you can think of, top of mind? And .. did you think about the use of software?Now think about some of your most succesful development projects from the past. By any chance ... did the projects you just thought about involve the use of computers and software?
Budget for software is often skipped or not even thought about when setting up sustainable development projects. But when you think about it, there is nothing sustainable about using illegal copies of software, or expecting your implementing partners to sign up for expensive licenses or maintenance contracts.
MEARCH.org beliefs that open source software will be the best option for the developing world. Starting in 2005, MEARCH.org has started experimenting with open source software in the humanitarian setting. The choice of "free" software has grown exponential ever since and MEARCH.org predicts that this is only the tip of the iceberg of what will come in the near future. So why not include the use of open source software in a humanitarian setting?
Introducing OpenOffice.org
The alternative for Microsoft Office.
GIMP
The free alternative that substitutes the use of Adobe Photoshop.
Open soure GIS software
MEARCH is experimenting with Open Source alternatives replacing packages such as ArcGIS and MapInfo. Several software packages are available, of which GRASS and QGIS are the most promising.
Research and Development
MEARCH keeps close contact with sourgefource.net, the main hub for open source software development. MEARCH.org keeps up with the latest GNU initiatives.
Apache and MyAdminPhp
Database systems can be very useful, for admin tasks, but also for coordination, project implementation and so forth.
