The Role of the Free Software The Role of the Free Software Movement in the Mobilization Movement in the Mobilization of Free Software Developersof Free Software Developers

Margaret S. ElliottMargaret S. ElliottInstitute for Software ResearchInstitute for Software Research

School of Information and Computer ScienceSchool of Information and Computer ScienceUniversity of California, IrvineUniversity of California, Irvine

Irvine, California 92697Irvine, California 92697CRTIO Hour CRTIO Hour

January 21, 2004January 21, 2004melliott@ics.uci.edumelliott@ics.uci.edu

http://www.ics.uci.edu/~melliotthttp://www.ics.uci.edu/~melliott

OverviewOverview Research MotivationResearch Motivation Research MethodologyResearch Methodology Free Software MovementFree Software Movement Computerization MovementsComputerization Movements Free versus Open Source SoftwareFree versus Open Source Software Occupational CommunitiesOccupational Communities F/OSS Development Historical ViewF/OSS Development Historical View F/OSS Occupational Community/Subcultures EvolutionF/OSS Occupational Community/Subcultures Evolution Free Software Business ModelFree Software Business Model Free Software Research Site – GNUeFree Software Research Site – GNUe Research ResultsResearch Results Future WorkFuture Work Open QuestionsOpen Questions

Research MotivationResearch Motivation

Free/Open Source (F/OSS) software development projects rapidly Free/Open Source (F/OSS) software development projects rapidly growing:growing:– 750,000 users with 750 new ones each day750,000 users with 750 new ones each day– 75,000 project with 70 new ones each day75,000 project with 70 new ones each day

Research focus mainly on quantitative studies (Mockus et al., 2002)Research focus mainly on quantitative studies (Mockus et al., 2002) Need for more qualitative studiesNeed for more qualitative studies Global teams work on F/OSS projects, work long hours often without Global teams work on F/OSS projects, work long hours often without

paypay What motivates people do this? What social worlds exist that drive the What motivates people do this? What social worlds exist that drive the

persistence of these communities? persistence of these communities?

Research MethodologyResearch Methodology

Virtual EthnographyVirtual Ethnography Grounded TheoryGrounded Theory Study of data from Website documentation, kernel cousins Study of data from Website documentation, kernel cousins

(digests), IRC archives, mailing list archives, books on free (digests), IRC archives, mailing list archives, books on free and open sourceand open source

Email and face-to-face interviews with free software Email and face-to-face interviews with free software developers (key GNUe contributors)developers (key GNUe contributors)

Free Software MovementFree Software Movement

One driving force behind F/OSS development is the Free One driving force behind F/OSS development is the Free Software MovementSoftware Movement

FSM supported and directed by the Free Software FSM supported and directed by the Free Software FoundationFoundation– FSF – a non-profit charity whose purpose is to promote FSF – a non-profit charity whose purpose is to promote

free softwarefree software– FSM – a social movement with the purpose of FSM – a social movement with the purpose of

promoting use of free software instead of proprietary promoting use of free software instead of proprietary softwaresoftware

FSM and FSF started by visionary, Richard M. StallmanFSM and FSF started by visionary, Richard M. Stallman

Free Software PhilosophyFree Software Philosophy

““Computer users should be free to modify programs to fit their needs, and free Computer users should be free to modify programs to fit their needs, and free to share software, because helping other people is the basis of society to share software, because helping other people is the basis of society (Stallman, 1999).” ((Stallman, 1999).” (http://www.gnu.org/pilosophy/why-free.htmlhttp://www.gnu.org/pilosophy/why-free.html))

““The free software philosophy rejects a specific widespread business practice, The free software philosophy rejects a specific widespread business practice, but it is not against business. When businesses respect the users’ freedom, we but it is not against business. When businesses respect the users’ freedom, we wish them success...”wish them success...”

““It is a relief and joy when I see a regiment of hackers digging in to hold the It is a relief and joy when I see a regiment of hackers digging in to hold the line...We can’t take the future of freedom for granted.. If you want to keep your line...We can’t take the future of freedom for granted.. If you want to keep your freedom, you must be prepared to defend it.” (Stallman, 1999)freedom, you must be prepared to defend it.” (Stallman, 1999)

Free Software Movement IdeologyFree Software Movement Ideology

BeliefsBeliefs– Freedom (“Think free speech, not free beer”)Freedom (“Think free speech, not free beer”)– Free SoftwareFree Software– Freedom of ChoiceFreedom of Choice

ValuesValues– Building CommunityBuilding Community

NormsNorms– Copyleft with General Public License (GPL)Copyleft with General Public License (GPL)– Informal ManagementInformal Management– Open Disclosure on websites of source code, documentation, Open Disclosure on websites of source code, documentation,

archives of mailing list, email, and IRC logs.archives of mailing list, email, and IRC logs.

Computerization MovementsComputerization Movements

Kling and Iacono (1988) Kling and Iacono (1988) – Characterized CM as a mobilization force for widespread Characterized CM as a mobilization force for widespread

computerization.computerization.– General movement and 5 specific ones (e.g. Artificial Intelligence).General movement and 5 specific ones (e.g. Artificial Intelligence).– Painted utopian picture of what companies and society will gain.Painted utopian picture of what companies and society will gain.

Iacono and Kling (2001)Iacono and Kling (2001)– CMs for internetworking and distant work.CMs for internetworking and distant work.

FSM – new genre of CM FSM – new genre of CM – Assumes computerization and attempts to revolutionalize software Assumes computerization and attempts to revolutionalize software

development development

– Promotes production and use of “free” software only.Promotes production and use of “free” software only.

Free Versus Open Source SoftwareFree Versus Open Source Software

Philosophical Differences - Spectrum of beliefsPhilosophical Differences - Spectrum of beliefs

Free: Emphasis on Free: Emphasis on exclusivelyexclusively free. Open to anyone to copy, free. Open to anyone to copy, study, modify, redistribute as free software (GPL and others specific to study, modify, redistribute as free software (GPL and others specific to FSF)FSF)– ““Think free speech, not free beer.”Think free speech, not free beer.”

Open: Promoted by Open Source Initiative.Open: Promoted by Open Source Initiative.– Recognition of businesses who wish to combine free with Recognition of businesses who wish to combine free with

proprietary.proprietary.

F/OSS Occupational CommunityF/OSS Occupational Community

Occupational Community ofFree/Open Source Developers

Free SoftwareDevelopersSubculture

Open SourceSoftwareDevelopersSubculture

GNUe

Organizational Cultures and Occupational Organizational Cultures and Occupational Communities PerspectiveCommunities Perspective

Organizational culture perspective (Martin, 2000; Schein, Organizational culture perspective (Martin, 2000; Schein, 1992) used to study socially established structures of 1992) used to study socially established structures of meaning which are accepted by organizational members.meaning which are accepted by organizational members.

Occupational community (Van Maanen and Barley, 1984) Occupational community (Van Maanen and Barley, 1984) – group with shared goals, work practices, beliefs, interests – group with shared goals, work practices, beliefs, interests and value systems.and value systems.– Occupational subcultures – form in organizational cultures from Occupational subcultures – form in organizational cultures from

occupational community (e.g. engineers, programmers, lawyers).occupational community (e.g. engineers, programmers, lawyers). Form in typical and virtual organizations.Form in typical and virtual organizations. Created partly for self-control of occupations.Created partly for self-control of occupations.

F/OSS Development EvolutionF/OSS Development Evolution1984 – Emacs, C compiler (RMS)

1985 - Free Software Foundation

GNU’s Not Unix

Linux kernel

GNU/Linux

(1992)

Free Software Apps.

- GNU projects

- e.g.GNUenterprise

- etc…

Open Source Apps.

- Apache (IBM)

- OpenOffice (SUN)

- etc…

F/OSS Occupational Community EvolutionF/OSS Occupational Community EvolutionFSM Ideology Influences Evolution of F/OSS Occupational Community

Free Software Developers (Occupational Subculture)

- Projects use free software ONLY

- Strong beliefs in freedom, free software, freedom of choice

- Values in community building, cooperative work

-Free Software Business Model (e.g. www.dotgnu.org)

Open Source Software Developers (Occupational Subculture)

- Projects use free combined with proprietary

- Split from FSM in ideology (1997)

- Weaker beliefs in free software, freedom of choice

- Values in cooperative work, community

-Formed Open Source Initiative to promote OS in business community

F/OSS Occupational CommunityF/OSS Occupational Community

Occupational Community ofFree/Open Source Developers

Free SoftwareDevelopersSubculture

Open SourceSoftwareDevelopersSubculture

GNUe

Free Software Business ModelFree Software Business Model

Developers start a free software project (Need based)

Contributors join community

First Software Version Release

ArtifactsWebsiteCodeDocumentation

Version Control(CVS)

Businesses Contribute Time and Money and Make Profits

Continuous (Re)design by Volunteer and Paid Contributors

Free Style Design Semi-structured Design

GNUe ProjectGNUe Project

Metaproject of GNUMetaproject of GNU International virtual communityInternational virtual community Developing free enterprise resource planning (ERP) Developing free enterprise resource planning (ERP)

systemsystem 6 core maintainers, 18 active contributors, 18 inactive 6 core maintainers, 18 active contributors, 18 inactive

contributors, many lurkerscontributors, many lurkers 6 firms paying contributors6 firms paying contributors 13 companies actively using free ERP system13 companies actively using free ERP system

GNUe Occupational SubcultureGNUe Occupational Subculture

BeliefsBeliefs– Free SoftwareFree Software– Freedom of ChoiceFreedom of Choice

ValuesValues– CommunityCommunity– Cooperative WorkCooperative Work

NormsNorms– Informal Management, Immediate Acceptance of Contributors, Informal Management, Immediate Acceptance of Contributors,

Open DisclosureOpen Disclosure

Conceptual Diagram of GNUe ResearchConceptual Diagram of GNUe Research

BeliefsFree SoftwareFreedom of Choice

Informal/Formal Work Practices

- Real-time Code and DesignReviews

Conflicts and Debates over use of non-freeTools

NormsInformal ManagementAcceptance of OutsidersOpen Disclosure

Strong Belief in Free Software

Builds GNUe Community StrengthensOccupational Subculture

Resolution of conflicts Reinforces Beliefs

Electronic ArtifactsRC Real-time and LogsMailing ListsKernel CousinsPrivate Email

Causal Conditions

Phenomenon Action/Interaction Consequences

Free Software Occupational CommunityBelief in FreedomBelief in Free SoftwareValue in giving back to community

GNUe IRC and Mailing List ExcerptsGNUe IRC and Mailing List ExcerptsCASE ONECASE ONE <CyrilB> Hello. Several images on the GNUe website seems to be <CyrilB> Hello. Several images on the GNUe website seems to be

made with non-free Adobe softwares, I hope I’m wrong: it is quite made with non-free Adobe softwares, I hope I’m wrong: it is quite shocking. Does anybody know more on the subject?...shocking. Does anybody know more on the subject?...

<CyrilB> We should avoid using non-free software at all cost, am I <CyrilB> We should avoid using non-free software at all cost, am I wrong?wrong?

CASE TWOCASE TWO ““I think it is extremely *()%^ that a GNU project would require me to I think it is extremely *()%^ that a GNU project would require me to

install non-free software in order to read and modify the install non-free software in order to read and modify the documentation. I mean if I cannot make vrms happy on my debian documentation. I mean if I cannot make vrms happy on my debian system then what good am I as a Free Software developer? system then what good am I as a Free Software developer? (Chillywilly)”(Chillywilly)”

““Using free software is NOT about making RMS happy or unhappy…Using free software is NOT about making RMS happy or unhappy…For me, my motivation is a free future for my son (response to For me, my motivation is a free future for my son (response to Chillywilly).”Chillywilly).”

Research ConclusionsResearch Conclusions

Persistence of rich culture of free software developers Persistence of rich culture of free software developers builds and perpetuates work community.builds and perpetuates work community.

IRC important medium for debating and resolving conflicts.IRC important medium for debating and resolving conflicts. Debates on IRC facilitate teamwork and reinforce beliefs, Debates on IRC facilitate teamwork and reinforce beliefs,

values and norms of FSM and GNUevalues and norms of FSM and GNUe

Future WorkFuture Work

Comparison of GNUe with other free and open sites.Comparison of GNUe with other free and open sites. Data mining of mailing lists, IRC, summary digests.Data mining of mailing lists, IRC, summary digests. Comparison of virtual occupational communities with Comparison of virtual occupational communities with

typical occupational communities (e.g. lawyers).typical occupational communities (e.g. lawyers).

Open QuestionsOpen Questions

Are other free software projects strongly influenced by FSF Are other free software projects strongly influenced by FSF and FSM?and FSM?

To what extent is the Free Software Business Model in To what extent is the Free Software Business Model in place? Can it compete with typical software business place? Can it compete with typical software business model?model?

Do strong cultural beliefs lead to more succesful F/OSS Do strong cultural beliefs lead to more succesful F/OSS projects?projects?

How different are free and open source projects in How different are free and open source projects in organizational structure?organizational structure?

Free Software Business ModelFree Software Business Model

Developers start a free software project (Need based)

Contributors join community

First Software Version Release

ArtifactsWebsiteCodeDocumentation

Version Control(CVS)

Businesses Contribute Time and Money and Make Profits

Continuous (Re)design by Volunteer and Paid Contributors

Free Style Design Semi-structured Design

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Supported by NSF grants: #IIS-0083075; #ITR-0205679Supported by NSF grants: #IIS-0083075; #ITR-0205679 In collaboration with Walt Scacchi, Institute for Software In collaboration with Walt Scacchi, Institute for Software

Research and Mark Ackerman, University of Michigan, and Research and Mark Ackerman, University of Michigan, and Les Gasser, University of Illinois, Urbana.Les Gasser, University of Illinois, Urbana.