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Sunday, June 08, 2008

What is was Open Source Day 2008?
Everyone knows that JUST has the highest Jordanian rate of IT nerds, technology fanatics and pseudo-hackers. What do you think they would be capable to do if they were grouped and led by a person like me?!? :)
We (i.e. JUST Open Source Group) organized an open day to promote 'open source' between Jordanian students and it seems it is the first time such an event occurs.
To realize the hugeness of the event, these are some of the things we distributed: nearly 1500 CDs and DVDs, Mozilla and SUN gifts and a lot of giveaways (1000 pens, 500 notebooks, 500 folders and 20000 stickers) 450 donuts and unlimited coffee!!

Donuts :P Exhibition Tent Coffee Guy :)

Open Source for Dummies
If you are not a geek or a computer nerd, you'll probably not know what open source means.. I will try to make things simpler by giving an example. Suppose you purchase a car... it may be a Lamborghini, Jaguar, BMW (or more probably a Kia Sephia if you are in Jordan ). However, after you bought that car you will be free to do what you prefer. You can open it, try to fix the car if it's broken, change its engine and other parts or even modify its style (in the 'Pimp my Ride' way)!
Things are different when we talk about computer applications. You do own your car, but it's impossible to "own a computer program" at the same way. A software company which sells a program allows you to only use it. You are even not allowed to see how it works or to know how it was programmed.
You can get more freedom by using open source programs. Open source means that a computer program is accessible to everybody and that the 'source code' (the orders given to the computer) can be modified and changed as you like.

Open Day Highlights
- The day started with a deep philosophical speech of Prof. Bataineh (our faculty's dean), who stated that open source is a modern revolutionary response against capitalism and corporate ownership. He didn't say this explicitely, his opinions were thinly covered by ethicism and his personal Sufi theological views. But nobody can deny that what he said in the opening ceremony was a strong attack against new economic doctrines.
- There was a panel discussion titled "What Future for Open Source in Jordan?" with three key persons: Hussein Kawasmi, who is a main member of Jordan Computer Society, Razan Khatib, an open source expert and manager of important IT companies, and Zaid Mdanat, whose company is the REDHAT partner in Jordan. Unfortunately, the discussion became similar to a struggle between some Micro$oft-lover students and the guests.
- Mr. Joseph Shomali gave a very useful presentation about using Open Source software and tools in 3D and console game development. His company is now developing a state-of-the-art 3D game (For PC and XBOX) which will be sold in North America and Japan . The lecture was a must-see for all the gamers!

Prof. Sameer Panel Discussion Mr. Ziad Marqa

Firefox and JUST mozillaclub
We made a good work to promote Firefox and other Mozilla products (Mozilla was one of our global sponsors together with SUN Microsystems). It was really nice to know that people's lives changed completely after they've discovered Firefox. Students were also shocked by the large numbers of cool and useful add-ons they can download for Firefox.
The Open Source Day was also a great opportunity to spread Songbird. Songbird is a desktop media player mashed-up with the Web which you can download from here. (Yes, it's really nice.. I love it)

Creative Commons in Jordan
I suppose the Open Source Day was the first CC-related event in Jordan . Mr. Ziad Marqa gave an extraordinary lecture about intellectual property and Creative Commons licenses. The lecture was extremely related to Jordanian laws, as Mr. Marqa is officially translating the CC licenses to Arabic to make them compliant with Jordanian laws. (Yes, he is really making a good work).
We had some wonderful guests like Donatella Della Ratta who is now working with Creative Commons to support and promote CC licenses in Arab World. Two artists, Eileen Simpsons and Ben White attended the Open Day as milestone to their wonderful project: the Open Music Archive, a database that contains free and creative music, especially that which has fallen out of copyright. (It is interesting that Jordan Times published a good article about them all).
All the parts agreed on the necessity to 'build' a CC-supporting community in Jordan .

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Well done my friend, I'm so sad that we missed it.

Salam Yugi,
Nice to catch ur blog ... and know more ppl here in JUST develope their own blogs with their nice ideas, of course u have a technology touch,which is pretty cool,
And Yeah it was special day,
But wait I missed the Donuts Part :(
I just took one small sticker

Go ahead and keep good working up,

Thanks Jad.. 3ala rasi
Don't worry, we are waiting you for the next time ;)

Hi Enas!
I am discovering a lot of new JUST bloggers lately, this is a great thing!!
--I'm sorry for the donuts :)
Thx!!

Hi Issa...

I JUST want to thank you for your post, because I was planing to write something on my plog about this event which I take part in it, but up to this time I have not yet.

Also I am so happy that I finally see the pictures that have been taken on that day, especially the one in which you stand next to me. :)

I think I missed a very nice day :(
Hope next time you arrange such a great event I'll be closer to jordan. Good job bro ;)

Ah, btw, I love this guy!!
"..open source is a modern revolutionary response against capitalism and corporate ownership."

Thanks Ibrahim,
But actually you are standing next to ME in the photo :)

Thanks Mui,
I hope that.
Yes Prof.Sameer is fantastic, he's one of the persons who most hate Micro$oft. He is also a #1 anti-capitalist.
Sorry that this will be his last year as Faculty dean :(

when is this?
lol i know not about this.
sad that i miss it.

well, mind if there's a next time, let us knw.

p.s. tho im a medicine students, i love anything about computers XD

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