RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Computers and the Internet are just starting to penetrate the Mideast, and since most residents of most countries here are dirt-poor, Linux and open source are “naturals” for the region. There is also a fast-growing market for Arabic-language commercial software (or software services based on open source applications), and it seems that half of the region’s governments have decided their country should become “the” developer of Arabic-language software. Saudi Arabia, where I’m writing this, is pouring massive government funds into an effort to build a software industry. But it’s possible that cultural and political factors may be more important than government aid in encouraging software development. If this is so, Saudi Arabia may be wasting its money, and should look at changing its society instead. Note: This is #5 in a series of five “Dispatches from Saudi Arabia.” You may want to see #1, #2, #3, and #4 before you read this one.

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