Open Source Software Development

Abstract

This article examines and reviews what is known so far about free/open source software development (FOSSD). FOSSD is not the same as software engineering as that is portrayed in common textbooks. Instead, it is a complementary approach to address the many challenges that arise in the development of complex software systems that are often built outside of a traditional corporate software development environment. This article highlights some of the basic understandings for how FOSSD works based on empirical studies of FOSSD projects, processes, and work practices in different communities. This includes identification of different types of informal online artifacts that facilitate and constrain FOSSD projects. This article also identifies what different studies examine as well as the approaches used to sample and systematically study FOSSD. Next, opportunities for constructive crossover studies of software engineering and FOSSD help reveal new directions for further research study. Finally, the last section presents limitations and conclusions regarding studies of FOSSD.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA558874

Entities

People

  • Walt Scacchi

Organizations

  • University of California, Irvine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Computer Program Documentation
  • Computer Program Reliability
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Information Systems
  • Internet
  • Multiagent Systems
  • Open Source Software
  • Operating Systems
  • Social Media
  • Software Design
  • Software Development
  • Software Development Tools
  • Web Browsers

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Software Engineering.
  • Theoretical Analysis.