Understanding Free Software Developers: Findings from the FLOSS Study Rishab Aiyer Ghosh HBS/MIT...
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![Page 1: Understanding Free Software Developers: Findings from the FLOSS Study Rishab Aiyer Ghosh HBS/MIT conference, June 19, 2003 MERIT/Infonomics, University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081514/5697bf7a1a28abf838c830be/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Understanding Free Software Understanding Free Software Developers: Findings Developers: Findings
from the FLOSS Studyfrom the FLOSS Study
Rishab Aiyer GhoshHBS/MIT conference, June 19, 2003
MERIT/Infonomics, University of Maastricht
![Page 2: Understanding Free Software Developers: Findings from the FLOSS Study Rishab Aiyer Ghosh HBS/MIT conference, June 19, 2003 MERIT/Infonomics, University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081514/5697bf7a1a28abf838c830be/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Altruism? Not reallyAltruism? Not really
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Reasons to start and to continue Reasons to start and to continue FLOSS developmentFLOSS development
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
make money
distribute not marketable software products
get a reputation in OS/FS community
improve my job opportunities
improve OS/FS products of other developers
get help in realizing a good idea for a software product
solve a problem that could not be solved by proprietary software
limit the power of large software companies
think that software should not be a proprietary good
participate in the OS/FS scene
participate in a new form of cooperation
share knowledge and skills
learn and develop new skills
% of Respondents
Reason to continue with F/LOSS
Reason to start F/LOSS© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
Monetary
Signaling
Product-related
Political
Social
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Types of motivesTypes of motives
53,2
31,4
12,7
2,6
Social motivations Career / monetary concerns Political motivations Software-related motivations
Motivational Dimensions
Source: FLOSS Developer Survey (C) International Institute of Infonomics 2002
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Monetary motivesMonetary motives
% of Respondents
7.8
12.8
5.2
17.5
4.4
18.4
11.9
15.7
46.3
Indirectly: other reasons
Indirectly: but also developF/LOSS at work
Indirectly: job description does notinclude F/LOSS development
Indirectly: got job because ofF/LOSS experience
Directly: other reasons
Directly: paid for administratingF/LOSS
Directly: paid for supportingF/LOSS
Directly: paid for developingF/LOSS
Do not earn money from F/LOSS
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
“Do you earn money from [FLOSS], directly or indirectly?”
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Monetary motivesMonetary motives
"To make money is a ...
12.3
4.4
Reason to start F/LOSS Reason to continue with F/LOSS
% o
f R
esp
on
dents
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Signalling EffectsSignalling Effects
85.5
1.8
12.6
Yes No I do not know
% o
f R
es
po
nd
en
ts
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
“Do you think there is a positive impact of experience in [FLOSS development] on job opportunities?”
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Signalling EffectsSignalling Effects
8.9
9.1
23.9
33.7
10.0
12.0
29.8
39.8
distribute not marketablesoftware products
get a reputation in OS/FScommunity
improve my job opportunities
improve OS/FS products ofother developers
% of Respondents
Reason to continue with F/LOSS
Reason to start F/LOSS
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
![Page 9: Understanding Free Software Developers: Findings from the FLOSS Study Rishab Aiyer Ghosh HBS/MIT conference, June 19, 2003 MERIT/Infonomics, University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081514/5697bf7a1a28abf838c830be/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Expectations of other developersExpectations of other developers
24.0
2.5
32.3
5.8
To write beautiful andaesthetic programs
To provide better jobopportunities
To respect me and mycontribution to OS/FS
To distribute not marketablesoftware
% of Respondents © 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
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Social MotivationsSocial Motivations
30.6
34.5
49.8
78.9
35.5
37.2
67.2
70.5
participate in the OS/FSscene
participate in a new form ofcooperation
share knowledge and skills
learn and develop new skills
% of Respondents
Reason to continue with F/LOSS
Reason to start F/LOSS
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Social Functions of the Social Functions of the FLOSS CommunityFLOSS Community
“FLOSS Community is a Forum…”
16.1
16.3
20.7
22.4
57.4
for general discussions aboutsoftware
for people with the sameinterests
for people looking for fun
for people using new forms ofcooperation
to exchange knowledge
% of Respondents© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Expectations of other developersExpectations of other developers
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
27.5
35.7
78.2
30.6
To be able to cooperate ina new way
To let me learn anddevelop new skills
To share their knowledgeand skills
To take part in the maincommunications and
discussions
% of Respondents© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Political MotivationsPolitical Motivations
19.0
30.1
28.9
37.9
limit the power of largesoftware companies
think that software should notbe a proprietary good
% of Respondents
Reason to continue with F/LOSS
Reason to start F/LOSS
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Politics as a function of the Politics as a function of the FLOSS communityFLOSS community
“FLOSS Community is a Forum…”
64.5
that enables more freedom in software development
% o
f R
esp
on
de
nts
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Expectations of other developersExpectations of other developers
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
18.7
To help limiting the power of large software companies
% o
f R
es
po
nd
en
ts
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Product-related MotivationsProduct-related Motivations
23.8
29.7
27.0
29.6
get help in realizing a goodidea for a software product
solve a problem that could notbe solved by proprietary
software
% of Respondents
Reason to continue with F/LOSS
Reason to start F/LOSS
© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Product-related functions of the Product-related functions of the FLOSS communityFLOSS community
“FLOSS Community is a Forum…”
18.8
36.6
40.7
for software developers whoneed a toolbox
for innovative breakthroughs
providing more variety ofsoftware
% of Respondents© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Expectations of other developersExpectations of other developers
"What Do You Expect from Other OS/FS Developers?"
42.9
33.2
25.4
To improve OS/FS productsof other developers
To help realizing ideas forsoftware products
To solve a problem that couldnot be solved by proprietary
software
% of Respondents© 2002 International Institute of Infonomics
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Career/monetary rewardsCareer/monetary rewards
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Career/monetary rewardsCareer/monetary rewards
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Social “rewards”Social “rewards”
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Social “rewards”Social “rewards”
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ReferencesReferences
FLOSS report: floss.infonomics.nl/report/
FLOSS workshop, Brussels, Oct 14: floss.infonomics.nl/workshop/