This document discusses how free and open source software enables Wikipedia to exist and function as a free, collaborative online encyclopedia. It notes that Wikipedia uses the free software MediaWiki, which is licensed under the GNU GPL, and other free software like Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Bugzilla, IRC, Mailman, JavaScript, Python and Perl. It emphasizes that free knowledge requires free software and formats to ensure accessibility. It also acknowledges the pioneering work of the GNU project and Free Software Foundation in developing the idea that software should be freely shared and modifiable.

1. How
Free Software
makes
Wikipedia
possible
Brianna Laugher,
Wikimedia Australia
http://www.wikimedia.org.au/

2. Wikipedia:

3. 1:
encyclopedia

4. 2:
website

5. 3:
not for profit

6. 4:
multilingual

7. 5:
free (no cost)

8. 6:
wiki

9. 7:
open content

10. MediaWiki:

11. GPL
GNU
General
Public
License

12. LAMP
Linux,
Apache,
MySQL,
PHP

13. Bugzilla
IRC
Mailman
JavaScript
Python
Perl

14. File formats:

15. Free knowledge requires
free software.
If we offer information in a proprietary or
patent-encumbered format, then we are not
just violating our own commitment to freedom,
we are forcing others who want to use our
allegedly free knowledge to themselves use
proprietary software.
Jimmy Wales

16. 1:
OpenOffice.org

17. 2:
SVG

18. 3:
Ogg

19. Copyright:

20. GFDL
GNU
Free
Documentation
License

21. Read it

22. Copy it

23. Sell it

24. Change it

25. But!
You must also

26. Attribute
the authors

27. Pass on the
freedoms

28. We owe an enormous debt to the GNU
project and to the Free Software Foundation,
as pioneers and leaders of a movement for
sharing code freely, so that it cannot be
used to coerce and restrict users, and so that
it can be improved upon by others.
That idea is one of the key
inspirations for Wikipedia itself.
Erik Moeller, Deputy Director, Wikimedia Foundation

29. Wikimedia Australia is an
independent, not-for-profit
organisation, whose primary
aim is to promote equality of
opportunity to access and
participate in the collaborative
creation of Free Cultural Works,
especially educational works,
and works about Australia, its
culture, natural environment,
and Australian news and media.
contact @ wikimedia.org.au