prPIG Joins the Open Source Initiative®

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Aug. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- The Open Source Initiative ® (OSI), the premiere organization that promotes and protects open source, announced today that the Puerto Rico Python Interest Group (prPIG) has joined the OSI as an Affiliate Member. prPIG’s support of open source software development and its advocacy for the adherence to the open source definition are supporting software innovation in Puerto Rico. prPIG’s affiliation with OSI will help build a sustainable software development community in Puerto Rico, that will drive technological and social innovation.

"prPIG offers free workshops and seminars to educate about and advocate for the benefits of Open Source. To grow our community and increase our reach we will continue to build bridges among different constituencies, focusing especially on high school and university students,” said Kevin Shockey, founder of prPIG. “Our belief is that by exposing students to the Open Source Definition, we can illustrate the promise of open source and provide a viable alternative to predatory vendor lock-in."

"We are pleased to have prPIG join our community,” said Patrick Masson, general manager of the OSI. “prPIG captures the very essence of the Open Source movement, where communities of practice self-organize around common goals to share and co-create. prPIG is helping set the standard for peer-driven development across Puerto Rico while also contributing to the larger Python community."

The prPIG was founded to provide an additional community beyond the limited options of the proprietary software industry in Puerto Rico.  prPIG works to raise awareness and adoption of Open Source software and development practices throughout Puerto Rico's technology, government and private sectors where proprietary software development technologies have traditionally been dominant.

The OSI protects and promotes open source by providing a foundation for community success. It champions open source in society through education, infrastructure and collaboration. For more information about the OSI, or to learn how to become an affiliate, please visit http://wiki.opensource.org/bin/Communities/Affiliates.

About the Puerto Rico Python Interest Group

The Puerto Rico Python Interest Group (prPIG) works to increase the number of software developers and the amount of software written in Puerto Rico. A key goal is to change the paradigm in Puerto Rico, from one in which information technology is a cost-center to one that acknowledges the strategic value of IT. You can find out more about prPIG at http://www.prpig.org/p/about.html or by following prPIG on Twitter via @pr_PIG.

About the Open Source Initiative

Founded in 1998, the Open Source Initiative protects and promotes open source by providing a foundation for community success. It champions open source in society through education, infrastructure and collaboration. The (OSI) is a California public benefit corporation, with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

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Media-Only Contact:

Ed Schauweker

Agile Public Relations for OSI

ed@agilepr.net

(703) 963-5238