Open Source and the Bazaar Method

History of Software Development 1944, Harvard and IBM build first computer bundling Hardware and Software together 1944, Harvard and IBM build first computer bundling Hardware and Software together 1969, IBM begins to bundle Hardware and Software separately keeping source code secret 1969, IBM begins to bundle Hardware and Software separately keeping source code secret 1981, Separation of Hardware and Software becomes final when IBM partnered with Microsoft and Intel to develop the first Personal Computer 1981, Separation of Hardware and Software becomes final when IBM partnered with Microsoft and Intel to develop the first Personal Computer

Open Source Early 1970’s, AT&T Bell Labs developed the Unix operating system, a portable operating system Early 1970’s, AT&T Bell Labs developed the Unix operating system, a portable operating system Unix source code and licenses were given away to universities and AT&T published two books containing the source code Unix source code and licenses were given away to universities and AT&T published two books containing the source code University of California altered the Unix Source code to create many new enhanced features and then freely released the enhanced versions to the public University of California altered the Unix Source code to create many new enhanced features and then freely released the enhanced versions to the public

Rise of Freeware Lawsuits ensued over which parts of Unix source code could be freely distributed to the public Lawsuits ensued over which parts of Unix source code could be freely distributed to the public As a result, Linus Torvalds created the new operating system Linux in the early 1990’s As a result, Linus Torvalds created the new operating system Linux in the early 1990’s The Linux source code was freely distributed to the public where the hacker community could freely alter and improve upon the existing code The Linux source code was freely distributed to the public where the hacker community could freely alter and improve upon the existing code

Development Community A new community of hackers and programmers emerged on the internet as a result of open source software A new community of hackers and programmers emerged on the internet as a result of open source software These programmers took part in the development and maintenance of new programs by altering and improving upon existing source code These programmers took part in the development and maintenance of new programs by altering and improving upon existing source code The Development Community allowed Linus Torvalds to use limited funds to create a fully capable operating system with thousands of debuggers and coders The Development Community allowed Linus Torvalds to use limited funds to create a fully capable operating system with thousands of debuggers and coders

Open Source Definition: Social Contract In 1997, Bruce Perens published a book of guidelines to articulate the developers’ commitment to open source and its users In 1997, Bruce Perens published a book of guidelines to articulate the developers’ commitment to open source and its users The Debian Free Software Guidelines were incorporated into and became the basis of the Open Source Definition The Debian Free Software Guidelines were incorporated into and became the basis of the Open Source Definition The Open Source Definition became a social contract between developers and users allowing the users to use and alter source code freely and keeping the developers free from liability The Open Source Definition became a social contract between developers and users allowing the users to use and alter source code freely and keeping the developers free from liability

Autonomy A level of Autonomy exists in OSS Development that does not exist in the corporate field A level of Autonomy exists in OSS Development that does not exist in the corporate field Developers are free to pick and choose which projects they wish to take part in and for how long Developers are free to pick and choose which projects they wish to take part in and for how long Programmers have the freedom to take OSS software in their own direction Programmers have the freedom to take OSS software in their own direction

Quality: For Better or Worse? Critics of OSS software claim that programmers will produce a lesser quality product when there is no monetary value and proper documentation is non existent Critics of OSS software claim that programmers will produce a lesser quality product when there is no monetary value and proper documentation is non existent Advocates of OSS software claim that a programmer has the freedom to pick and choose which projects to work on and therefore will work hard on those projects that interest them Advocates of OSS software claim that a programmer has the freedom to pick and choose which projects to work on and therefore will work hard on those projects that interest them Advocated also claim that the pressure of reputation in the OSS community pushes developers to produce higher quality work Advocated also claim that the pressure of reputation in the OSS community pushes developers to produce higher quality work

Open Source and Accountability In her article Computing and Accountability, Helen Nissenbaum cites four barriers to accountability In her article Computing and Accountability, Helen Nissenbaum cites four barriers to accountability The Problem of Many hands – when there are too many people working on a project, it can be difficult to identify who is accountable The Problem of Many hands – when there are too many people working on a project, it can be difficult to identify who is accountable Bugs – Believing software bugs are a way of life creates problems with accountability Bugs – Believing software bugs are a way of life creates problems with accountability Computer as Scapegoat – Blaming the computer when a program cannot be ran Computer as Scapegoat – Blaming the computer when a program cannot be ran Ownership without liability – when a person creates a program or develops code but is not liable for the problems with its use Ownership without liability – when a person creates a program or develops code but is not liable for the problems with its use

Solving Accountability Issues in the OSS Community The OSS Community handles each accountability issue in a different fashion The OSS Community handles each accountability issue in a different fashion Many Hands – In the OSS Community, when a developer creates bad code, other developers are far less likely to accept it, therefore an individual accountability is created Many Hands – In the OSS Community, when a developer creates bad code, other developers are far less likely to accept it, therefore an individual accountability is created Bugs – The OSS community handles bugs with a group effort, Bugs – The OSS community handles bugs with a group effort,

Is Open Source a Public Good? Can open source be considered a free source for research and the expansion of knowledge? Can open source be considered a free source for research and the expansion of knowledge? Peter Kollack defines public goods as those things non- excludable and indivisible Peter Kollack defines public goods as those things non- excludable and indivisible Kollack argues that because OSS is prohibited from discrimination it supports the idea of non-exclusion and because one user does not affect the others it is indivisible Kollack argues that because OSS is prohibited from discrimination it supports the idea of non-exclusion and because one user does not affect the others it is indivisible Bertrand Meyer argues against Kollack that there are often ulterior motives behind the development of OSS: “Microsoft Bashing” Bertrand Meyer argues against Kollack that there are often ulterior motives behind the development of OSS: “Microsoft Bashing”

The Cathedral and the Bazaar In the Cathedral, small groups of individuals work in isolation developing software In the Cathedral, small groups of individuals work in isolation developing software Beta is not released before a program has been tested Beta is not released before a program has been tested Debuggers and Coders work on source code that is often kept secret Debuggers and Coders work on source code that is often kept secret In the Bazaar, programs are developed in a mass group effort over the internet Programs are released early Debuggers and Coders consist of OSS developers world wide

Rules of the Bazaar Method Eric Raymond developed the Bazaar Method after analyzing the development of Linux Eric Raymond developed the Bazaar Method after analyzing the development of Linux Raymond realized that the creation of Linux was unique and fundamental guidelines would allow the Bazaar method to be recreated Raymond realized that the creation of Linux was unique and fundamental guidelines would allow the Bazaar method to be recreated Studying the process behind the design and creation of Linux, Eric Raymond created a few rules behind the Bazaar method Studying the process behind the design and creation of Linux, Eric Raymond created a few rules behind the Bazaar method

Rule of the Bazaar Method, cont. A few of the principles formulated by Raymond on the Bazaar method include: Every good work of software starts by scratching a developer’s personal itch Every good work of software starts by scratching a developer’s personal itch Treating your users as co-developers is your least-hassle route to rapid code improvement and effective debugging Treating your users as co-developers is your least-hassle route to rapid code improvement and effective debugging Release early. Release often. And listen to your customers. Release early. Release often. And listen to your customers. Given a large enough beta-tester and co-developer base, almost every problem will be characterized quickly and the fix obvious to someone Given a large enough beta-tester and co-developer base, almost every problem will be characterized quickly and the fix obvious to someone If you treat your beta-testers as if they’re your most valuable resource, they will respond by becoming your most valuable resource If you treat your beta-testers as if they’re your most valuable resource, they will respond by becoming your most valuable resource

Applying the Bazaar Method: Popmail Eric Raymond applied the principles behind the Linux creation to an OSS POP3 client called Popclient Eric Raymond applied the principles behind the Linux creation to an OSS POP3 client called Popclient Using the Bazaar principles he created a large base of debuggers and coders by releasing early and often Using the Bazaar principles he created a large base of debuggers and coders by releasing early and often By creating a large base of debuggers, Raymond believed all problems could be found quickly and solved efficiently By creating a large base of debuggers, Raymond believed all problems could be found quickly and solved efficiently

Popclient becomes Fetchmail Listening to the thoughts and ideas of his users, Raymond redesigned Popclient to forward mail through the SMTP port Listening to the thoughts and ideas of his users, Raymond redesigned Popclient to forward mail through the SMTP port This change in design drastically improved the program’s efficiency and throughput This change in design drastically improved the program’s efficiency and throughput Raymond came to the belief that the most valuable resource available in the Bazaar Method are the ideas of the user Raymond came to the belief that the most valuable resource available in the Bazaar Method are the ideas of the user

Social Context of Open Source The Bazaar method allows co-developers to come and go as their interests change The Bazaar method allows co-developers to come and go as their interests change In the Cathedral, as developers leave and are added, the release dates of programs become later In the Cathedral, as developers leave and are added, the release dates of programs become later Raymond found that when developing in the Bazaar method, developers could come and go without delaying the release of a program Raymond found that when developing in the Bazaar method, developers could come and go without delaying the release of a program A lead developer in the Bazaar must have a strong leadership ability that allows him/her to attract co- developers A lead developer in the Bazaar must have a strong leadership ability that allows him/her to attract co- developers

Raising the Question: The Maginot Line After Raymond released his findings on the Bazaar Method, skeptics criticized the Bazaar method After Raymond released his findings on the Bazaar Method, skeptics criticized the Bazaar method Skeptics believed that the driving force of management increases the performance and efficiency of software Skeptics believed that the driving force of management increases the performance and efficiency of software Raymond countered this claim by citing the examples of the GNU Emacs and Linux which have been running and updating for several years Raymond countered this claim by citing the examples of the GNU Emacs and Linux which have been running and updating for several years Raymond also indicated that traditionally managed software projects do not meet reliable execution by deadline, on budget, or to all features of the specification Raymond also indicated that traditionally managed software projects do not meet reliable execution by deadline, on budget, or to all features of the specification

Future of Open Source Since, Eric Raymond’s release of “The Cathedral and the Bazaar” several companies have embraced the Bazaar method Since, Eric Raymond’s release of “The Cathedral and the Bazaar” several companies have embraced the Bazaar method Netscape released their source code for the Netscape communicator to the public in 1998 Netscape released their source code for the Netscape communicator to the public in 1998 Mozilla, a popular internet browser in the hacker community, uses OSS and the design and added features are designed by users worldwide Mozilla, a popular internet browser in the hacker community, uses OSS and the design and added features are designed by users worldwide