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The institutions of open source software: Examining the Debian community

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 06:29 authored by Juan Mateos-Garcia, Ed Steinmueller
Free and open source software activities involve and, perhaps, evolve institutions (rules, norms and standards) that influence the formation, growth, and demise of communities. Community institutions are attractors for some individuals while discouraging other individuals from entering or continuing to participate. Their suitability may change as a community grows. This paper examines the institutions of the Debian community where issues of community identity, distribution of authority, and decentralisation have facilitated growth and development. These same institutions have also resulted in conflicts regarding community purposes and the quality and delivery of the community¿s output. We examine the institutional redesign undertaken to address these problems and derive implications for F/LOS communities and companies.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Information Economics and Policy

ISSN

0167-6245

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

4

Volume

20

Page range

333-344

Pages

12.0

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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