Open source software, such as TEX, Mozilla Firefox, and Linux has had a profound effect on computing during the last decade, and we hope that open source mathematical software will have a similar positive impact on mathematics....
There is a proof in the article by Campbell et al. in The Atlas of Finite Groups—Ten Years On (1998) that describes how many separate software packages were “easily used” to deduce various mathematical facts —no code is given, and some of the programs are proprietary software that runs only on hardware many years out of date. Such proofs may become increasingly common in mathematics if something isn’t done to reverse this trend....
If the program is proprietary, [verification] is not possible. We have every right to be distrustful, not only due to a vague distrust of computers but because even the best programmers regularly make mistakes....
To quote J. Neubüser, “with this situation two of the most basic rules of conduct in mathematics are violated: In mathematics information is passed on free of charge and everything is laid open for checking.”
Posted by
Peter Suber at 11/21/2007 10:47:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
