Open Source in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon, is the capital of the Silicon Forest, the Pacific Northwest version of Silicon Valley. This region contains a number of high-tech companies started in the 1940's with Tektronix and Electro Scientific Industries. Companies like Cray, Sequent and nCube became supercomputer and complex computational system specialists using the Linux O/S.

Today, businesses in the greater Portland area like IBM, Intel, Hewlett Packard, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Mentor Graphics and Compiere provide strong corporate R&D, industry and business support for Open Source Technologies.

There is a significant amount of support for Open Source Software in Portland from major computer corporations and state universities to local advocacy groups and support organizations. Institutions like Open Source Development Labs, Eclipse Foundation, Oregon State University's Open Source Labs and Open Technology Business Center provide leadership for Open Source development.

Portland hosts international events and networks like OSCON, GOSCON, ITEC and InnoTech.

Also, Portland is home to Iron Mountain Foundry, the leading provider of innovative business services using Open Source Software.

Here are some of the many reasons why Open Source Software is so prevalent in Portland:

Open Source Development Lab - (the new) home to Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux - is located in Beaverton, just outside Portland. It's founding members include IBM, HP, and Intel, all with a significant presence in the greater Portland area.

O'Reilly's annual Open Source Convention (OSCON) - Hosted annually in downtown Portland. "At OSCON 2005, we explored three deep trends affecting open source: the commoditization of software, network-enabled collaboration, and software customizability. Those discussions, and more, will continue in 2006."

The Personal Telco Project played an important part in Portland being named "Hottest" in Intel's first "Most Unwired Cities" survey.

The Portland State Aerospace Society —Rocket Scientists who use Linux to run their Ground Software (Launch Control and Tower) and Flight Computer Software.

Portland has Open Source advocacy groups:

• Portland Open Source Software Entrepreneurs (POSSE), a local organization of entrepreneurs who rely on and develop OSS to help businesses succeed.
• BizNix, Linux and Unix Support for the Business Computer User
• Panug, Portland Area Networking User Group (since 1985)

Read why Willamette Week thinks Portland is Ground Zero of a Digital Revolution.

• PASA, Portland Area Sys Admins
• Portland Linux/Unix Group, a group of enthusiasts dedicated to teaching and learning about Linux and Unix.
• PDX Linux, "the other Portland Linux group"
• FreeGeek, Community Technology Center
• K12Linux.org, for Linux in schools.
• The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) and it's Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (NETC) have recently published an excellent resource for educators: Open Options: Making Decisions about Open Source Software for K-12

(and so do our neighbors):

• BLUEgroup, Beaverton Linux/Unix Group
• Eugene Linux Users Group is a volunteer group whose goal is to promote and exchange information about Linux, Unix and Open Source Software in Eugene, Oregon and surrounding cities
• Mid-Willamette Valley Linux User's Group Home of "The Open Source Impact: Keeping Oregon's Money in Oregon"
• Salem Linux User Group, in the process of renewing itself

There are also many Linux service and support organizations:

Local businesses edge toward Linux systems: Planar Systems Inc., Mentor Graphics Corp., EasyStreet Online Services and Fortix. —Portland Business Journal, December 12, 2003

• Martin Consulting, Unix/Linux system administration, programming, and training services
• Open Source Consulting, LLC installs supports and develops open source software for business and nonprofits in Portland, Oregon.
• Yellow Crayon, Computer services for individuals and small businesses
• Accelerated Learning Center, Certification Training on Open Source Products
• Hands On Technology Transfer, Inc., Linux Certification Training Classes
• Mt. Hood Computer, Specializing in Business Computer And Networking Services
• Moxley Data Systems, Web Software Systems and Database Development
• Planet Argon, Web development, web design and consulting capabilities
• Fetter Consulting, for system administration and security services
• The ProComp Group, bringing Information Technology solutions to your business
• PlasmaLink Web Services, Linux Consulting
• Naked Ape Consulting, for Open Source Software, hardware, networks and security
• Zot Consulting, Internet Design, Security and Development
• pdxperts: computer consulting & programming
• ecWest, Premier IT Consulting
• Axian, Software Consulting and Training
• EasyStreet Pro Services offers everything from managed servers and colocation to monitoring and high-speed access to make sure your Internet initiatives are up and running.
• SpireTech - Portland Internet Service Provider

Randal Schwartz, author of many books about the Open Source language Perl, is a Portland resident and a founder of the Portland Perl Monger's group.