Understanding Free Software Developers: Findings from the FLOSS Study

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Understanding Free Software Developers Findings
from the FLOSS Study

• Rishab Aiyer Ghosh
• HBS/MIT conference, June 19, 2003

• MERIT/Infonomics, University of Maastricht

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Altruism? Not really
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Reasons to start and to continue FLOSS development
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Types of motives
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Monetary motives
Do you earn money from FLOSS, directly or
indirectly?
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Monetary motives
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Signalling Effects
Do you think there is a positive impact of
experience in FLOSS development on job
opportunities?
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Signalling Effects
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Expectations of other developers
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
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Social Motivations
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Social Functions of the FLOSS Community
FLOSS Community is a Forum
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Expectations of other developers
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
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Political Motivations
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Politics as a function of the FLOSS community
FLOSS Community is a Forum
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Expectations of other developers
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
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Product-related Motivations
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Product-related functions of the FLOSS community
FLOSS Community is a Forum
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Expectations of other developers
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
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Career/monetary rewards
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Career/monetary rewards
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Social rewards
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Social rewards
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References

• FLOSS report floss.infonomics.nl/report/
• FLOSS workshop, Brussels, Oct 14
  floss.infonomics.nl/workshop/