Introduction

Robert W. Gehl, 27 November 2020

As a university professor, I do a lot of different things, many of them having to do with technologies. I engage in research, write articles and books, put together syllabi, work with students, and collaborate with colleagues. All of these require the use of networked computers. But I don't use Windows and I don't use Apple.

I've been doing this sort of work for over a decade. Looking back over this period, it occurs to me that one aspect of my career is pretty unique: it regularly -- even insistently -- relies on Free and Open Source (FOSS) software. I run Linux on my computers, use LibreOffice to write, collect research with Zotero, browse the web with Firefox, and communicate with as many FOSS systems as I can. I also rely heavily on projects that take their inspiration from FOSS: I've contributed to Wikipedia and I often use (and teach about) Creative Commons resources. And I've published many articles in Open Access journals.

But I'm not just using FOSS tools, either. I've also published research articles on FOSS and FOSS-related topics. For many years now, I've been exploring FOSS alternatives to corporate social media. I wrote a book about the FOSS projects that enable anonymous Internet practices -- the so-called "Dark Web".

Being a FOSS Academic

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