In the beginning of the 2013 election cycle the first version of Huayra, a local develoment of Linux on Debian, which was incorporated in Netbooks within the Conectar Igualdad program and is available for download on any PC. Javier Castrillon, General coordinator of the initiative, gave Grupo Convergencia details of its implementation, how it grows with the help of users, how it expands to various State and what benefits it brings them. The interview was published in the 2013 Atlas and Yearbook.

Convergencia (C): Tell me how Huayra was created?

Javier Castrillon (JC): It was created within the National Social Security Administration (Anses), in the Conectar Igualdad program. Once the program was launched, we  were in the team that monitored and evaluated the system and surveyed more than 800 schools across the country. At that point we realized that it needed its own platform. The first computers came with a Windows syste , and fortunately Linux, but this system was not ours, we were not using free software in the paradigm with the ability to share it, create it together, give it added value. As the program was maturing, we decided to carry out the development and last year was appointed coordinator of the project and formed the team. We are 16 people among programmers, designers, teachers, sociologists and journalists.

C: In what did you base its development?

JC: In Debian/GNU, a solid platform 20 years in the market, it is the quintessential part of Linux. Our developers work with the same quality standards and have the same Debian repository system, Debian Pure Blends. Beyond its development, we do all the graphics and systematization of the work. We write tutorials, virtual courses as well as created the help menu. When one opens the computer for the first time  a window called "first steps" appears, where we explain simple things. That piece of software is used  by Canaima, in Venezuela. Moreover, Huayra is developed and designed using Huayra: never used Photoshop or any other system tool.

C: What special tools does this system have compared to others?

JC: Version 1.1 has 1,500 applications. The system is designed for the worst case scenario, for example a school in the middle of the woods without internet access. All these applications are installed in 2.7 Gb, with a text editor, programming tools, graphic design, a program to make a game, to make 3D pictures and DJ eBooks, among others. It is designed for all the uses we could think of.

C: Did you also develop the applications?

JC: The board of directors of Conectar Igualdad proposed issues to be addressed in the tools. Most of these applications are in the Debian repository but we had to find them: translate them into Spanish, fine-tune them to fit in memory and the Netbook, and adapt them to the computer's screen. Afterwards we added several local applications as Icaro, a system of free robotics and other programs made by developers around the country. In addition, our team created 60 applications from scratch.

Most are to link Huayra and others give response to a specific need of teachers. For example, in the country 's 860 rural schools with less than three classrooms. We could not deliver the server that come with Netbooks. So we developed Huayra School Manager, a server version on a Netbook with Huayra, which is an "access point". With that we were able to resolve the problem of server connection of these schools.

C: Does the system work on any machine?

JC: Yes, and coexists with another operating system.

C: Is there more interest for free software after spying scandals were uncovered this year?

JC: The issue of technological sovereignty had an important impact. Many people are becoming aware of this. Huayra is open source, all published in two repositories, one audience of programmers, GitHub, and a public software portal of the Chief of Staff 's Office. If you look at the Huayra code you will see that there is no line that allows spying. There lies the transparency of the state. No corporation may spy. That is why it is branching into several units. In the NAC (Core Access to Knowledge, of the State), in the Office of Public Communication Services, in the Ministry of Culture, and in several universities such as La Plata and Quilmes . Also, schools where the Conectar Igualdad program did not reach are migrating to Huayra. They adopt a public tool, and that’s what we want.

C: Thus, for these dependencies the system has the entire office suite to work...

JC: Yes the 1,500 applications it has are designed for the Conectar Igualdad program, but there are also more than 35,000 downloadable apps in the repositories of free download. Furthermore, this year provinces are incorporating applications to that repository, there are developed based on Huayra applications. The system is carried out federally. There are forums created by people, not by us, where one can find information, tutorials, and drivers. The community helped us refine Huayra. It is not a solution thought about in the downtown of the city of Buenos Aires. We do it together. Everyone who wants to install it is an equal partner. For example, students at the University of La Plata developed in Huayra tools needed for the legislative council and now the Senate of the Province of Buenos Aires is using this operating system. 

C: How much can the Government save with this operating system?

JC: A computer with Windows licenses, Office and antivirus per year costs US$ 700. If that is multiplied by all Conectar Igualdad machines or all of the public agencies, the result would be "millions" that the state could save and reinvest in local research and development.