CLSC 555 Information Systems Webliography: Open Source Software
by
Ann Tripp

| Concepts and Definitions | Discussions | Open source Software |

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• Concepts and Definitions
  • Open Source Software Definitions
        by Wikipedia
    Wikipedia's article on open source software is in-depth and very helpful, and includes links to information about the other types of software as well. Since this is an encyclopedia, there is a good general coverage of information about open source software; but because it is online, there is no space space limit, so the article is a complete source for information. The links are to other articles within Wikipedia, and there are also links to important sites related to the topic, such as the website for Linux. Wikipedia is a very good source for information because it is maintained by the public, so if there is an incorrect posting another user can report it and have the incorrect information taken off.

  • Open Source Software
        by The Open Source Initiative
    The Web site covers the definitions and concepts of open source software. The definition for open source software given on the home page is invaluable: "The basic idea behind open source is very simple: When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing." The most useful links are listed on the left under "Quick Links." Also, you can get cool OSS "swag"-- t-shirts, mugs, even bumper stickers!

  • A History of Open Source Software
        by David Bretthauer
    Bretthauer's twenty-page paper explains the history open source software from its humble beginnings to its present glorified state, and traces the paths of OSS companies BDS, Linux and GNU. This article was published in the journal ITAL, Information Technology and Libraries (from ALA). There are very good quotes from leaders in the industry, as well as important discussions of the effects open source software has had on the economy and society.

  • The Open Source Software Institute
        by OSI
    This is the website for the Open Source Software Institute. This site is a portal to information about OSS and the OSSI. According to their website, "the Open Source Software Institute (OSSI) is a non-profit organization comprised of corporate, government and academic representatives whose mission is to promote the development and implementation of open-source software solutions within U.S. federal, state and municipal government agencies and academic entities."

  • OSS/FS References
        by OSI and David Wheeler
    This site is basically an index of important sites, laid out in an explanatory paragraph. Wheeler lays out his site as a paper, but includes links to relevant sites within the text. This is a very good way to explain open source software, since the reader can simply click on the link within the text for more information from the source. Included is a discussion of the word "free" and its many definitions, and the philosophical discussion of open source software is very interesting.

  • Frequently Asked Questions about Open Source Software
        by OSI
    This is a link to an internal part of the Open Source Software Institute, which was listed above. This site has an invaluable "FAQ" section (located on the links bar at the top of the screen) which provides information on open source software and links to important programs. It is a very clear-cut explanation of OSS, which is helpful when trying to find specific definitions and quotations about a topic.

  • Open Source Software Licensing
        by SourceForge.net
    SourceForge is a software hosting company. This site not only gives information on what is needed to seek hosting on their site, but also what requirements are for licensing of any kind from OSI. On their website, the user can find information on obtaining an open source software license, which is vital for serious OSS developers, as well as choose from a selection of SourceForge OSS software licenses.

   

• Discussions
  • Why Open Source Software / Free Software? Look at the Numbers!
        by David Wheeler
    This is the second article by David Wheeler. In it, he discusses the various open source software operating systems, and also compares them to the Microsoft products of the same kind. He provides real examples of different users making the decision to use open source software, and covers the topic from all standpoints-- economic, social, and practical. He makes his case in a series of points on each topic, which makes this a very effective resource. There are also tables and graphs to back up his information, which provides a visual aid to why OSS is viewed as being "better."

  • How to Evaluate Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS) Programs
        by David Wheeler
    A guide for choosing open source software -- comparing each program side-by-side. A good, in-depth analysis that helps distinguish the various programs from each other. David Wheeler's guide is a practical aid in the process of choosing a software program for the user's specific needs. It is a walkthrough of the decision-making process, a great guide for any user.

  • Open Sources: Voices from the Open Source Revolution
        edited by Chris DeBona, et al
    This is a link to the book "Open Sources: Voices from the Open Source Revolution" edited by Chris DiBona, Sam Ockman, Mark Stone. It is a complete online book, made up of a collection of articles by gurus of the open source software world, including the creators of Apache and Linux. Each of these articles discuss a specific open source software topic, including definitions, history, and ramifications.

  • How Open Source Software Works
        by Karim Lakhani
    This a discussion of how and why Open Source Software "works" was published in "Research Policy" in 2002. Lakhani discusses this subject both from a practical standpoint of software mechanics, and in a discussion of why people are willing to work this hard to provide an open service for others- for free! Lakhani uses Apache as a strong example, with graphs and tables of important information provided to make this essay a cohesive, important source.

  • Why Open Source Software Can Succeed
        by Andrea Bonaccorsi
    In this paper, Bonaccorsi studies what she calls the "three economic problems" raised by the emergence of Open Source Software: motivation, co-ordination, and diffusion. It is a very good analysis not just of the programs themselves, but on the impact these programs have had on the world.

  • Why "Free Software" is better than "Open Source"
        by the GNU Project
    This essay was published in "Free Software, Free Society: The Selected Essays of Richard M. Stallman." It is a discussion of things to consider when choosing a type of software. Stallman feels that the development of "open source" software has only created problems instead of fixed them, and has made decisions even harder to make when choosing a software.

   

• Open Source Software
  • Apache
        by Apache
    "The Apache HTTP Server Project is an effort to develop and maintain an open-source HTTP server for modern operating systems including UNIX and Windows NT. The goal of this project is to provide a secure, efficient and extensible server that provides HTTP services in sync with the current HTTP standards." -Apache Home Page

  • Linux
        by Linux
    "Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers around the world. Developed under the GNU General Public License , the source code for Linux is freely available to everyone." -Linux Home Page

  • Mozilla
        by Mozilla
    "Established in July, 2003, with start-up support from America Online's Netscape division, the Mozilla Foundation exists to provide organizational, legal, and financial support for the Mozilla open-source software project. The Foundation has been incorporated as a California not-for-profit corporation to ensure that the Mozilla project continues to exist beyond the participation of individual volunteers, to enable contributions of intellectual property and funds and to provide a vehicle for limiting legal exposure while participating in open-source software projects." -Mozilla Home Page

  • GNOME
        by GNOME
    "The GNOME project provides two things: The GNOME desktop environment, an intuitive and attractive desktop for end-users, users, and the GNOME development platform, an extensive framework for building applications that integrate into the rest of the desktop." -GNOME Home Page

  • MySQL
        by MySQL
    "MySQL develops and markets a family of high performance, affordable database servers and tools. Our mission is to make superior data management available and affordable for all. We contribute to building the mission-critical, high-volume systems and products worldwide. MySQL AB is defining a new database standard. This is based on its dedication to providing a less complicated solution suitable for widespread application deployment at a greatly reduced TCO. MySQL's robust database solutions embody an ingenious software architecture while delivering dramatic cost savings. With superior speed, reliability, and ease of use, MySQL has become the preferred choice of corporate IT Managers because it eliminates the major problems associated with downtime, maintenance, administration and support." - MySQL Home Page

   

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