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author meillo@marmaro.de
date Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:48:47 +0200
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1 \chapter{About \freesw\ projects}
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3 There are several differences between \freesw\ projects and projects about proprietary software.
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4 To understand \freesw\ projects, one needs to understand \freesw\ itself first.
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6 \section{About \freesw}
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7 The term ``Free Software'' was coined by the \name{Free Software Foundation} (short: \NAME{FSF}), founded by Richard~M.~Stallman (known as ``RMS'') in 1985. %FIXME: check date
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8 Although various licenses make software free, none of them represents the thinking of \freesw\ like the the \GNU\ \gpl\ (short: \GPL), which was written by Stallman in 1983.
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9 One could say, the \GPL\ ``powered'' the \name{Free Software movement}.
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11 But after all, the \GPL\ was not the first \freesw\ license used.
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12 The \name{BSD License} for example is much older; with first occurences around 19xx. %FIXME: insert date
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13 However, nobody talked about ``Free Software'' back then.
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15 \freesw\ gives freedoms to its users.
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16 In contrast to proprietary software restricting the users freedom.
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17 The freedoms (or rights) the user has are stated in %FIXME where?
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18 . Namely these are:
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19 \begin{enumerate}
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20 \item The freedom to use
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21 \item The freedom to copy and share
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22 \item The freedom to study the source code
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23 \item The freedom to modify
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24 \item The freedom to redistribute (granting the same freedom)
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25 \end{enumerate}
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28 \section{The term ``Open Source''}
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29 \name{Open Source Software} often stands for the same as \freesw.
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30 But there is an essential difference: \name{Open Source} focuses on the availability of source code, while \freesw\ is about freedoms for people.
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32 \name{Open Source Software} is a subset of \freesw, meaning: All \freesw\ is \name{Open Source}, but there exists \name{Open Source Software} that is not free.
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35 \section{Development of \freesw}
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36 Having source code available and the right to modify it, encouridges programmers to actually do so.
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37 Their modifications are manifoldly.
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38 Some tailor the software to their needs.
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39 Some add features.
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40 Some do it just for fun.
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41 There are no limitations---whoever wants to, may work on it.
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43 Since the boom of the internet, \freesw\ typically is developed by an open community of programmers interested in the software.
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44 The process of development is watchable by everyone.
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46 The other, now less common, method is a more closed group, developing in a ``sealed'' room, but releasing finished versions to the public.
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48 Eric~S.~Raymond discusses about these methods, which he named \name{the bazaar} and \name{the cathedral}. %FIXME: add reference
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50 The following text will focus on the ``bazaar'' model.
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53 \section{The role of the community}
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54 \freesw\ projects rise and fall with their community!
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56 Most \freesw\ programs are developed by a very small group of programmers, often only one person.
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57 But they are used by many people.
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58 In between the programmers and the users, are people located who are a bit of both.
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59 These are the ones that write documentation, find bugs and probably even fix it.
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60 They discuss on mailing lists, bulletin boards and \NAME{IRC} chats.
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61 The program is often spread by their ``advertising''.
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63 The \emph{community} consists of the actual developers and all users that contribute to the program.
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64 Contribution can be one of the described ways, or others like providing a server for the project website for example.
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66 \emph{Community} is everyone who is in contact through the project.
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67 Be it on the mailing list, the discussion board, or by telling the developers about a new feature wanted.
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69 There will hardly be a community if no communication channels are available.
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70 If the development team does not provide them, there is a chance that enthusiastic %FIXME: better word
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71 users set them up on their own.
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72 But this is rare and the program needs to be very popular. %TODO: maybe include an example here (w3m?)
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74 Projects without a good community tend to die sooner or later.
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77 \section{Evolution of a community}
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78 Let us look at the process a community establishes: In most times it's only one who has an idea, in the beginning.
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79 He starts developing.
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80 When others get in contact with the project, there may be some who are so much interested that they start co-developing.
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81 Others report bugs, and some only use the program.
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83 After some time, one will find a small group of core developers, a larger group of contributers (bugs, patches, documentation) and a very large group of users.
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84 The size ratio of the groups vary by type of project.
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86 One should have that in mind, when starting a \freesw\ project.
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89 \section{Creating a strong community}
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90 Building up a good community needs some effort of the main developers.
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91 %TODO: search for documents about this topic
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93 First communication channels need to be set up, to enable the growth of a community.
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95 Second, development should be visible by everyone who is interested in it.
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96 Time between work done on the project and its visibility to the public should be kept short.
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97 This makes it interesting for other developers to join.
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98 Developers are the core of a community.
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100 Third, there is a rule of thumb that should be followed: ``Release early, release often!'' %FIXME: add reference
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101 Releases are (more) stable versions, primary for users.
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102 They should be created, frequently.
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103 People will more likely use programs of active projects.
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105 Fourth, the developers should try to get the users ``in the boat''.
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106 Good communities have a large group of users that do not only receive, but also give something back to the project.
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107 The project leaders should motivate users to contribute.
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108 This unlocks a big work force and gets lot of unexiting work done.
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110 Fifth, documentation matters.
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111 Good documentation makes it easy for users and developers to start.
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112 And it helps to avoid a lot of unsatisfaction.
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113 Documentation is something that shows quality and that people care about the project.
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115 And sixth, project leaders should be good souvereigns.
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116 They should try to be fair, to motivate, be visionaires and try to put power and work on many shoulders.
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118 Not to forget: Every work that was done, every contribution that was made and every idea received needs to be honored in an appropriate way!
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119 Volunteer work lives by acknowledgement of the effort spent.