Linux was called to the board – Newspaper Kommersant No. 169 (7370) of 09/14/2022

“Kommersant” learned that Russian software developers are asking the Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Education to ensure the compatibility of the GIS “My School”, which should become a single ecosystem of educational institutions in the country, with Russian software (software). They fear that the system will only work with Microsoft software, which will complicate import substitution. According to Kommersant’s information, the possibility of a comprehensive replacement of Microsoft software with Russian Linux-based operating systems is also being discussed. But this can cause serious problems, experts admit, both with software and hardware.

“Kommersant” got acquainted with the letter of the association “Domestic Soft” (unites 235 companies, including 1C, Astra Group of Companies, etc.) to the head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev and the Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov dated August 12. In the document, the association asks to provide the possibility of integrating Russian software developers with the GIS “My School”. As Renat Lashin, executive director of Domestic Soft, explained to Kommersant, members of the association fear that the services of the GIS My School will be compatible only with software from Microsoft, and ask ministries to provide technical documents for the system (API, data exchange protocols, requirements for Software) to check how compatible it is with Russian operating systems (OS), office suites and other domestic solutions. Kommersant did not respond to the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Education.

The development of the GIS “My School” by the Ministry of Education began in the spring of 2021. The system should become a single IT circuit for all educational institutions in the country. For example, it will integrate an electronic school diary, a journal, a timetable, a cloud for files, a content library where suppliers can upload their courses, a project support system, and student portfolios. The development and support of My School was estimated at 2.18 billion rubles. until 2024 (see Kommersant dated March 30, 2021).

Moreover, Kommersant’s sources in the Russian software market claim that over the past few months, developers, the Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Education have been discussing the idea of ​​​​a centralized replacement of Windows and Microsoft office suites with Russian counterparts (Astra Linux, Alt Linux, etc.) in all educational institutions . This information was confirmed by the head of the board of directors of Basalt SPO (developed by Alt Linux) Alexey Smirnov. According to him, business came up with the initiative to ensure the mass supply of Russian operating systems to schools.

But market participants emphasize that it is extremely difficult to systematically replace Microsoft solutions in educational institutions. The American corporation “for decades has been consistently implementing its software in the Russian educational segment on preferential terms,” ​​explains the interlocutor of “Kommersant” from among the software developers.

In 2021, more than 85% of schools used Windows as their main OS, and only 6% used Russian OSes, Igor Kalganov, CEO of the T1 group, clarifies, although more than 45% of schools used domestic or free office software in one way or another: “In 2022 the situation is gradually changing, the supply of Russian operating systems has increased several times compared to the same period last year.”

The dependence of Russian educational institutions on foreign software is close to critical, confirms Dmitry Komissarov, Director for Product Development and Development of New Cloud Technologies (MyOffice office software): “Historically, schools and universities have sought to develop students’ skills in working with foreign software, so the transition on domestic solutions will depend not only on equipping classes with new products, but will also require the revision of curricula.”

It is necessary not only to replace the operating system or a text editor, it is necessary to make changes to the educational process, rewrite textbooks and change approaches, Dmitry Parshin, director of the Artezio development center, agrees: “It can be assumed that the educational sector will become the slowest in terms of software import substitution, since The hardest thing is to replace tools and practices.”

However, Oleg Karpitsky, General Director of STC IT ROSA, emphasizes that it is completely unrealistic to replace Windows completely and all at once: other specific software.

Nikita Korolev, Timofey Kornev