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meillo@91: \section{About \freesw\ projects}
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: % http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: There are several differences between \freesw\ projects and projects about proprietary software.
meillo@91: To understand \freesw\ projects, one needs to understand \freesw\ itself first.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \subsection{About \freesw}
meillo@91: 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.
meillo@91: 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.
meillo@91: One could say, the \GPL\ catalized the \name{Free Software movement}.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: % http://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: After all, the \GPL\ was not the first \freesw\ license used.
meillo@91: The \name{MIT License} (or \name{X Consortium License}) for example is older; published in 1988.
meillo@91: Licenses providing the same rights have been used since long time ago.
meillo@91: But none of them was so often (re)used by other projects---thus gattering less awareness.
meillo@91: 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.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \freesw\ gives freedoms to its users.
meillo@91: In contrast to proprietary software restricting the users freedom.
meillo@91: The freedoms (or rights) the user has are stated in the \name{Free Software Definition} of the \NAME{FSF}. Namely these are:
meillo@91: % http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
meillo@91: % http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html
meillo@91: \begin{enumerate}
meillo@91: 	\item The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
meillo@91: 	\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.
meillo@91: 	\item The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
meillo@91: 	\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.
meillo@91: \end{enumerate}
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \subsection{The term ``Open Source''}
meillo@91: \name{Open Source Software} often stands for the same as \freesw.
meillo@91: But there is an essential difference: \name{Open Source} focuses on the availability of source code, while \freesw\ is about freedoms for people.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \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.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: % http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html
meillo@91: % http://catb.org/~esr/open-source.html
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \subsection{Development of \freesw}
meillo@91: Having source code available and the right to modify it, encouridges programmers to actually do so.
meillo@91: Their modifications are manifoldly.
meillo@91: Some tailor the software to their needs.
meillo@91: Some add features.
meillo@91: Some do it just for fun.
meillo@91: There are no limitations---whoever wants to, may work on it.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Since the boom of the internet, \freesw\ typically is developed by an open community of programmers interested in the software.
meillo@91: The process of development is watchable by everyone.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: The other, now less common, method is a more closed group, developing in a ``sealed'' room, but releasing finished versions to the public.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Eric~S.\ Raymond discusses about these methods, which he named \name{the bazaar} and \name{the cathedral} \cite{catb}.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: The following text will focus on the ``bazaar'' model.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \subsection{The role of the community}
meillo@91: \freesw\ projects rise and fall with their community!
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Most \freesw\ programs are developed by a very small group of programmers, often only one person.
meillo@91: But they are used by many people.
meillo@91: In between the programmers and the users, are people located who are a bit of both.
meillo@91: These are the ones that write documentation, find bugs and probably even fix it.
meillo@91: They discuss on mailing lists, bulletin boards and \NAME{IRC} chats.
meillo@91: The program is often spread by their ``advertising''.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: The \emph{community} consists of the actual developers and all users that contribute to the program.
meillo@91: Contribution can be one of the described ways, or others like providing a server for the project website for example.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \emph{Community} is everyone who is in contact through the project.
meillo@91: Be it on the mailing list, the discussion board, or by telling the developers about a new feature wanted.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: There will hardly be a community if no communication channels are available.
meillo@91: If the development team does not provide them, there is a chance that encouraged users set them up on their own.
meillo@91: But this is rare and the program needs to be very popular. %TODO: maybe include an example here (w3m?)
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Projects without a good community tend to die sooner or later.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \subsection{Evolution of a community}
meillo@91: Let us look at the process a community establishes: In most times it's only one who has an idea, in the beginning.
meillo@91: He starts developing.
meillo@91: When others get in contact with the project, there may be some who are so much interested that they start co-developing.
meillo@91: Others report bugs, and some only use the program.
meillo@91: 
meillo@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.
meillo@91: The size ratio of the groups vary by type of project.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: One should have that in mind, when starting a \freesw\ project.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: \subsection{Creating a strong community}
meillo@91: Building up a good community needs some effort of the main developers.
meillo@91: %TODO: search for documents about this topic
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: First communication channels need to be set up, to enable the growth of a community.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Second, development should be visible by everyone who is interested in it.
meillo@91: Time between work done on the project and its visibility to the public should be kept short.
meillo@91: This makes it interesting for other developers to join.
meillo@91: Developers are the core of a community.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Third, there is a rule of thumb that should be followed: ``Release early, release often!'' \cite{catb}.
meillo@91: Releases are (more) stable versions, primary for users.
meillo@91: They should be created, frequently.
meillo@91: People will more likely use programs of active projects.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Fourth, the developers should try to get the users ``in the boat''.
meillo@91: Good communities have a large group of users that do not only receive, but also give something back to the project.
meillo@91: The project leaders should motivate users to contribute.
meillo@91: This unlocks a big work force and gets lot of unexiting work done.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: Fifth, documentation matters.
meillo@91: Good documentation makes it easy for users and developers to start.
meillo@91: And it helps to avoid a lot of unsatisfaction.
meillo@91: Documentation is something that shows quality and that people care about the project.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: And sixth, project leaders should be good souvereigns.
meillo@91: They should try to be fair, to motivate, be visionaires and try to put power and work on many shoulders.
meillo@91: 
meillo@91: 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!
meillo@91: Volunteer work lives by acknowledgement of the effort spent.
meillo@91: 




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