This first edition of Navigating the Open Source Ocean is only an introduction to the subject of open source software. Many topics are discussed incompletely or superficially, and some important topics are omitted entirely. Here are a few that are worthy of discussion.
How does one find an open source project to participate in as a software developer? How does one start a new open source project, attract developers, and manage development successfully?
What are the critical success factors for open source software projects? As discussed earlier, a capable and dedicated project coordinator is obviously key, especially in terms of attracting a sustainable core of developers, but is modular software architecture essential for allocating work efficiently? Is a large pool of potential contributors necessary, or are there examples of successful projects with only a few talented contributors? How important is it whether the software falls into the “general use” as opposed to the “specialized” category?
How can an open source software project establish its credibility as a viable tool for accomplishing mission-critical tasks in a particular field of endeavor?
The intricacies of open source software licensing have only been briefly alluded to earlier. The numerous and confusing variations on the basic licensing scheme are not of great importance to end-users, but businesses and developers need to be able to clarify specific licensing provisions to assure themselves that they are not risking costly lawsuits and the possibility of adverse legal judgments.
What are the considerations in migrating to open source software, especially from legacy applications? One aspect of planning is that there is likely to be no urgency to transition – the nature of open source software is that it will be there when you’re ready to adopt it. It falls into Stephen Covey’s category of “important but not urgent.” Moving to open source software isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. It should be based on an objective assessment of needs coupled with thoughtful evaluation.
And short of full-fledged migration, how can legacy software and open source software best be integrated, and what is the role of consultants and contractors in accomplishing this?
A second edition of Navigating the Open Source Ocean is in preparation and interested readers are invited to comment on and contribute to it.