Open Source Resources

Apache

More than 50% of all web servers are powered by Apache. Apache was created by a loose confederation called the Apache Group who started out with a few "patches" to the web server originally created at the National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA--the same outfit that built the original Mosaic browser). They have created the dominant industry standard. An NT version is now available.

Apache Server Project
The brain trust of the Apache community

C2NET Software
Most noted for their Stronghold Servers and full-strength encryption software.

Perl and other Scripting Languages

Perl (Practical Extraction and Report Language) is a scripting language written by Larry Wall, with contributions from thousands of others. In the words of Hassan Schroeder, Sun's first webmaster, "Perl is the duct tape of the Internet."

www.perl.com
Launched by Tom Christiansen, www.perl.com provides a starting place for finding out everything about Perl. www.perl.com is also a mirror for CPAN, the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network.

The Perl Institute
A non-profit organization dedicated to making Perl more useful. Volunteers and interested parties are welcome to contribute.

The Perl Journal
A quarterly publication that offers a mix of articles for beginners and power users alike.

ActiveState
ActiveState Tool Corp developed the original implementation of Perl for Win32, and is now the leading source of perl tools for the Windows Platform.

Tcl Resource Center
Tcl (Tool Control Language) is a powerful and flexible general purpose command language. Scriptics is the company recently formed by Tcl's creator, John Ousterhout, to provide scripting tools, applications, and services based on tcl.

Python
Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language that is often compared to Tcl, Perl, Scheme or Java. This site provides downloads, news, and much more.

Scriptics
A commercial venture that provides scripting tools, applications, and services. Scriptics is the primary distribution point for Tcl/Tk.

GNU Project

The GNU Project began in 1984 when Richard Stallman wrote a UNIX compatible operating system and gave it away for free. The GNU Project is also dedicated to eliminating restrictions on copying, redistribution, understanding, and modification of computer programs.

GNU Project
The home for Project GNU.

Cygnus Solutions
Cygnus provides single-source, UNIX, and Win32 desktop and cross-platform development tools for 32- and 64-bit microcontrollers.

Linux

A free implementation of a UNIX-like OS for personal computers created by Linus Torvalds.

Debian GNU/Linux: The Universal Operating System
Debian is a free operating system built on the Linux kernel. Included with it are over 1526 packages (precompiled applications).

Red Hat Software
A computer software development company that sells products and provides services related to Linux, a freely available UN*X-like operating system.

Caldera
Caldera couples open-source operating system technologies, such as Linux, with traditional industry business practices, including channel partner distribution and support; leveraged third-party application development; and internal research and development, marketing and technical support.

The Silicon Valley Linux User Group (SVLUG)
A very active Linux user group located in the heart of the valley.

VA Research
Develops Workstation, Server, and Internet products using the Linux operating system.

Netscape

One of the big two in the browser and server market. Netscape made their code open source in the spring of 1998.

Netscape
Netscape home.

mozilla.org
mozilla.org is Netscape's central point of contact and community for those interested in using or improving their source code.

BSD

An advanced BSD UNIX operating system for "PC-compatible" computers, developed and maintained by a team of volunteers. There are several active BSD efforts.

bsd.org
An umbrella site for all versions of BSD, both free and commercial.

FreeBSD
The home site for FreeBSD.

NetBSD
The home site for NetBSD.

OpenBSD
A free BSD with emphasis on portability, standardization, correctness, security, and cryptography.

Free Software Distributors

The following companies and organizations are clearinghouses for a variety of open source and free software .

Prime Time Freeware
Prime Time Freeware (PTF) publishes mixed-media (book/CD-ROM) collections of freeware, otherwise known as freely redistributable software.

The Written Word
Provides precompiled Open Source binaries for Solaris, HP-UX, IRIX, Tru64 UNIX, and AIX.

Walnut Creek CDROM
A long-time supporter for the free OS's, Walnut Creek publishes freeware on CDROM.

Other Internet Software

Some of the most important software that runs the Internet is open source.

BIND
BIND, the Berkeley Internet Name Daemon, makes the DNS work. Without it, you'd be typing addresses like 204.148.40.9 instead of www.oreilly.com. Bind was originally created as part of one of the great early free software efforts, Berkeley UNIX, and is now maintained by Paul Vixie of the Internet Software Consortium.

Enhydra
Enhydra is an open source Java/XML Web application development and deployment environment.

Majordomo
Written in Perl, Majordomo is the program for managing Internet mailing lists. (If you like Majordomo, check out MajorCool, a Web interface.)

OpenSource Directory
OSD provides a resource for users to find stable Open-Source applications.

Sendmail
The majority of Internet email is routed by this open source program. Sendmail is still maintained by its creator, Eric Allman, who recently started Sendmail, Inc.

XEmacs
XEmacs is a powerful and highly customizable open source text editor and application development environment. It is very popular with internet application and web site developers.