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annotate thesis/attic/free-software-projects.tex @ 365:ba9463b43709 seventh preview version for Schaffter

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author meillo@marmaro.de
date Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:49:45 +0100
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1 \section{About \freesw\ projects}
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2
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3 % http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/
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4
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5 There are several differences between \freesw\ projects and projects about proprietary software.
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6 To understand \freesw\ projects, one needs to understand \freesw\ itself first.
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7
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8 \subsection{About \freesw}
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9 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.
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10 Although various licenses make software free, none of them represents the thinking of \freesw\ like the the \GNU\ \gpl\ (short: \GPL). Its first version was written by Stallman in 1989.
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11 One could say, the \GPL\ catalized the \name{Free Software movement}.
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12
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13 % http://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software
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14
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15 After all, the \GPL\ was not the first \freesw\ license used.
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16 The \name{MIT License} (or \name{X Consortium License}) for example is older; published in 1988.
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17 Licenses providing the same rights have been used since long time ago.
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18 But none of them was so often (re)used by other projects---thus gattering less awareness.
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19 Further more was the \GPL\ created to be a \emph{general} license for all kinds of programs, unlike most other licenses written for one particular program.
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20
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21 \freesw\ gives freedoms to its users.
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22 In contrast to proprietary software restricting the users freedom.
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23 The freedoms (or rights) the user has are stated in the \name{Free Software Definition} of the \NAME{FSF}. Namely these are:
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24 % http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
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25 % http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html
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26 \begin{enumerate}
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27 \item The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
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28 \item The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
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29 \item The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
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30 \item The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
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31 \end{enumerate}
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32
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33
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34 \subsection{The term ``Open Source''}
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35 \name{Open Source Software} often stands for the same as \freesw.
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36 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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37
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38 \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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39
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40 % http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html
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41 % http://catb.org/~esr/open-source.html
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42
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44 \subsection{Development of \freesw}
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45 Having source code available and the right to modify it, encouridges programmers to actually do so.
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46 Their modifications are manifoldly.
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47 Some tailor the software to their needs.
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48 Some add features.
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49 Some do it just for fun.
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50 There are no limitations---whoever wants to, may work on it.
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51
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52 Since the boom of the internet, \freesw\ typically is developed by an open community of programmers interested in the software.
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53 The process of development is watchable by everyone.
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54
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55 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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56
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57 Eric~S.\ Raymond discusses about these methods, which he named \name{the bazaar} and \name{the cathedral} \cite{catb}.
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58
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59 The following text will focus on the ``bazaar'' model.
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61
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62 \subsection{The role of the community}
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63 \freesw\ projects rise and fall with their community!
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64
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65 Most \freesw\ programs are developed by a very small group of programmers, often only one person.
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66 But they are used by many people.
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67 In between the programmers and the users, are people located who are a bit of both.
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68 These are the ones that write documentation, find bugs and probably even fix it.
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69 They discuss on mailing lists, bulletin boards and \NAME{IRC} chats.
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70 The program is often spread by their ``advertising''.
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71
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72 The \emph{community} consists of the actual developers and all users that contribute to the program.
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73 Contribution can be one of the described ways, or others like providing a server for the project website for example.
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74
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75 \emph{Community} is everyone who is in contact through the project.
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76 Be it on the mailing list, the discussion board, or by telling the developers about a new feature wanted.
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77
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78 There will hardly be a community if no communication channels are available.
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79 If the development team does not provide them, there is a chance that encouraged users set them up on their own.
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80 But this is rare and the program needs to be very popular. %TODO: maybe include an example here (w3m?)
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81
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82 Projects without a good community tend to die sooner or later.
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84
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85 \subsection{Evolution of a community}
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86 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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87 He starts developing.
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88 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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89 Others report bugs, and some only use the program.
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90
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91 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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92 The size ratio of the groups vary by type of project.
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93
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94 One should have that in mind, when starting a \freesw\ project.
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96
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97 \subsection{Creating a strong community}
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98 Building up a good community needs some effort of the main developers.
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99 %TODO: search for documents about this topic
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100
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101 First communication channels need to be set up, to enable the growth of a community.
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102
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103 Second, development should be visible by everyone who is interested in it.
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104 Time between work done on the project and its visibility to the public should be kept short.
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105 This makes it interesting for other developers to join.
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106 Developers are the core of a community.
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107
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108 Third, there is a rule of thumb that should be followed: ``Release early, release often!'' \cite{catb}.
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109 Releases are (more) stable versions, primary for users.
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110 They should be created, frequently.
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111 People will more likely use programs of active projects.
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112
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113 Fourth, the developers should try to get the users ``in the boat''.
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114 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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115 The project leaders should motivate users to contribute.
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116 This unlocks a big work force and gets lot of unexiting work done.
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117
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118 Fifth, documentation matters.
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119 Good documentation makes it easy for users and developers to start.
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120 And it helps to avoid a lot of unsatisfaction.
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121 Documentation is something that shows quality and that people care about the project.
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122
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123 And sixth, project leaders should be good souvereigns.
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124 They should try to be fair, to motivate, be visionaires and try to put power and work on many shoulders.
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125
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126 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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127 Volunteer work lives by acknowledgement of the effort spent.
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128