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1WEB DEVELOPER
TwitterView with
 
@RandyJensen
 
 Randy Jensen is a web developer in Dallas, TX, with a passion for Open Source software development. Randy maintains a very activeblog dedicated to Ubuntu and remains a very active member onTwitter.http://www.randyjensenonline.com 
NerdBoyTV:
Randy, thanks for joining me tonight. For starters, can you tell us a little bitabout your background as a web developer?
RandyJensen:
No problem. Glad we're able to do this. Started getting serious about webdesign ~5yrs ago. Currently a web developer in Dallas, TX.
NerdBoyTV:
What attracted you to web design? Layout? Conceptualizing ideas?Programming or technology? All of the above?
RandyJensen:
 Honestly I just fell in love with it in general. I remember being introduced toFront Page in 2000/01 I think. That night...
RandyJensen:
 …and just about every night after, I would sit and look at people's code to seehow they did different things. It's like a drug ;)
NerdBoyTV:
Hehe...and you obviously like solving puzzles (grin). By the way Tweeple,Randy's website online ishttp://www.randyjensenonline.com/  
NerdBoyTV:
Honestly, I really liked the clean design of your website and how it simplydirects the viewer to different aspects.
RandyJensen:
Thanks! I had an old design up there for a while and decided it was time for arefresh. It was all about minimalism this time.
“I remember beingintroduced to FrontPage in 2000…and Iwould sit and look atpeople's code to seehow they did differentthings. It's likea drug.”
 
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NerdBoyTV:
I'm ALL about simplicity and the minimalist approach. Nicely designed. ;-)
NerdBoyTV:
For those who don't know what it is, what exactly IS "Open Source"software?
RandyJensen:
Open Source in its simplest definition just means allowing access to yoursource code for anyone in the world to see and/or edit.
NerdBoyTV:
And what are the benefits of doing this? Where have we seen terrific-workingapps sprout up because of Open Source?
RandyJensen:
Open Source software encourages innovation because of its inherit ability tobe modified and adapted for multiple projects without re-inventing the wheel.
RandyJensen:
I think a lot of people are using Open Source technology and don't evenknow it. A lot of TVs are running Linux. Just about every...
RandyJensen:
…"Web 2.0" website is built on open source software, from their servers tothe technology that runs the website.
NerdBoyTV:
Now, I really don't know the answer to this, but is Open Source used tocreate all these different Twitter apps we see?
RandyJensen:
Not really. Most of the Twitter apps are built on Adobe AIR. While the appsare free, most are not licensed under an Open Source license.
NerdBoyTV:
Can you name a "familiar" software that was developed through OpenSource?
RandyJensen:
Sure, here are a few :) WordPress, Ubuntu Linux, Firefox, OpenOffice, VLC,FileZilla, LimeWire.
NerdBoyTV:
That's a pretty impressive list. Since you have a blog dedicated to it, explainwhat Ubuntu is and why you’re interest in it?
RandyJensen:
Ubuntu is a variant of Debian Linux, which just means it's another version ofLinux. The biggest difference is that it's focus...
“Open Source in itssimplest definition just means allowingaccess to your sourcecode for anyone in theworld to see and/oredit it.” “Open Sourcesoftware encouragesinnovation because of its inherit ability to bemodified and adaptedfor multiple projectswithout re-inventingthe wheel.”
 
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RandyJensen:
...is on making Linux as easy as Windows or OSX. It's also backed by themillionaire, Mark Shuttleworth, who is absolutely amazing.
NerdBoyTV:
From an end-user's perspective (like me), curious what the benefit is of anetbook with Ubuntu vs. say Microsoft XP?
RandyJensen:
Great question. Ubuntu will run much faster on a netbook, is more secure,comes with most of what you need. There's also a...
RandyJensen:
…really cool project they're working on called Netbook Remix, which isdesigned specifically for netbooks.http://www.canonical.com/projects/ubuntu/unr 
NerdBoyTV:
And is it my imagination or does an Open Source operating system likeUbuntu lower the cost and yet work equally as well as Windows XP?
RandyJensen:
Exactly :) Microsoft has actually been forced to lower what they chargemanufacturers to license Windows because of Linux's power.
NerdBoyTV:
And Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) has had to up their game with the less-buggy Firefox browser as a reasonable consumer option, huh?
RandyJensen:
It's been great to watch Firefox chip away at IE's market share. IE as a wholeis completely FUBAR. All you need: getfirefox.com.
NerdBoyTV:
Now conventional closed source development is tightly controlled/plannedfrom start to finish; Open Source development is not?
RandyJensen:
That's actually a bit of a misconception. Most teams behind big Open Sourcesoftware projects are well organized and highly connected.
RandyJensen:
Essentially you still have just a few people in charge. The difference iseveryone is encouraged to submit code to the project.
RandyJensen:
That code is reviewed by the main members and then "committed" if it'sdeemed to be worthy for the final project.
NerdBoyTV:
Can you explain how all these different perspectives come together into afinal effective product like Firefox?
“Some examples of Open Source softwareinclude WordPress,Ubuntu Linux,Firefox, OpenOffice,VLC, FileZilla,LimeWire.”“Microsoft hasactually been forcedto lower what theycharge manufacturersto license Windowsbecause of Linux'spower.”
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