Linux and the Developing World

impact on industrialized nations. We have learned much about operating systems, networking, software tools, and languages from Linux. We have also had the opportunity to disseminate this information to industry in Pakistan. In particular, our work on networking, security, and firewalls1 has assisted many Internet service providers here. Linux provides the developing world access to the Unix/X Windows environment, the lingua franca of scientific and engineering computing, at essentially zero software cost. What is more, Linux runs on commodity IBM PC-compatible hardware, which is available at a fraction of the cost of comparable brand-name workstations. Many useful and important Linux applications such as compilers, networking software, and firewalls are available for free. The aspect of Linux that discourages its industrial use in affluent countries—the modest time investment required to set up and configure it—is of little concern in the developing world with its low labor costs. Linux has already had a major impact on the developing world’s computing infrastructure, and its use and significance will likely grow in the next few years. Shahid H. Bokhari and Rafeequr Rehman University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan Linux and the Developing World L inux has b een a b oon to comput ing in the deve lop ing world. In Pak is tan we have used L inux produc t ive ly in both academia and indust r y. We descr ib e our exp er iences set t ing up a L inuxbased teach ing and research lab orator y and present a sur vey o f i t s use in indust r ia l net work ing.