Releasing software is challenging. To decide when to release software, developers may consider a deadline, a set of features or quality attributes. Yet, there are many stories of software that is not released on time. In large-scale software development, release management requires significant communication and coordination. It is particularly challenging in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) ecosystems, in which hundreds of loosely connected developers and their projects are coordinated for releasing software according to a schedule. In this work, we investigate the release management process in two large-scale FOSS development projects. In particular, our focus is the communication in the whole release management process in each ecosystem across multiple releases. The main research questions addressed in this dissertation are: (1) How do developers in these FOSS ecosystems communicate and coordinate to build and release a common product based on different projects? (2) What are the release management tasks in a FOSS ecosystem? and (3) What are the challenges that release managers face in a FOSS ecosystem? To understand this process and its challenges better, we used a multiple case study methodology, and colleced evidence from a combination of the following sources: documents, archival records, interviews, direct observation, participant observation, and physical artifacts. We conducted the case studies on two FLOSS software ecosystems: GNOME and OpenStack. We analyzed over two and half years of communication in each ecosystem and studied developers’ interactions. GNOME is a collection of libraries, system services, and end-user applications; together, these projects provide a unified desktop —the GNOME desktop. OpenStack is a collection of software tools for building and managing cloud computing platforms for public and private clouds. We catalogued communication channels, categorized coordination activities in one channel, and triangulated our results by interviewing key developers identified through social network analysis. We found factors that impact the release process in a software ecosystem, including a release schedule positively, influence instead of direct control, and diversity. The release schedule drives most of the communication within an ecosystem. To achieve a concerted release, a Release Team helps developers reach technical consensus through influence rather than direct control. The diverse composition of the Release Team might increase its reach and influence in the ecosystem. Our results can help organizations build better large-scale teams and show that software engineering research focused on individual projects might miss important parts of the picture. The contributions of this dissertation are: (1) an empirical study of release management in two FOSS ecosystems (2) a set of lessons learned from the case studies, and (3) a theory of release management in FOSS ecosystems. We summarize our theory that explains our understanding of release management in FOSS ecosystems as three statements: (1) the size and complexity of the integrated product is constrained by the release managers capacity, (2) release management should be capable of reaching the whole ecosystem, and (3) the release managers need social and technical skills. The dissertation discusses this theory in the light of the case studies, other research efforts, and its implications. / Graduate / 0984 / gpoo+proquest@calcifer.org

Software reuse is prevalent in software development. It is not uncommon that one software product may depend on numerous libraries/products in order to build, install, or run. Software reuse is difficult due to the complex interdependency relationships between software packages. In this work, we presented four approaches to retrieve such dependency information, each technique focuses on retrieving software dependency from a specific source, including source code, build scripts, binary files, and Debian spec. The presented techniques were realized by a prototype tool, DEx, which is applied to a large collection of Debian projects in a comprehensive evaluation. Through the comprehensive analysis, we evaluate the presented techniques, and compare them from various aspects. / Graduate

Despite the abundance of literature on free and open source software (FOSS), its impact on individual developers’ productivity is a topic that is under explored. Moreover, the traditional measures of developers’ productivity are based on objective measures (lines of code) instead of subjective measures (self-rated productivity). To bridge this gap and add new knowledge to existing literature, the study explored the impact of FOSS on developers’ productivity based on self-rated productivity measure. Hence, the study used an exploratory approach of qualitative research, a theoretical framework and interviews as a method of data collection. The findings indicate that FOSS actually has a positive impact on developers’ productivity and the rate of adoption is high among young and experienced developers. However, the risks and security challenges that come with FOSS based on its open model actually creates room for lack of trust and thus can reduce the adoption rate. Though FOSS has improved developers’ productivity when it comes to software development, the issues of poor documentation and lack of documentation encountered when trying to modify or enhance FOSS actually hinder developers’ productivity. Hence the free and open source software community should come up with ways of tackling these challenges in order for the developers to be more productive.

Esta dissertação tem por objetivo apresentar as licenças de software livre mais importantes, sob a luz dos seus principais aspectos jurídicos e da inter-compatibilidade, de forma a auxiliar pessoas envolvidas no desenvolvimento de software a compreender as implicações destas licenças ao fazer uso delas em seus projetos. A dissertação contextualiza as licenças, tanto no tocante à legislação brasileira, quanto no que diz respeito às restrições de licenciamento, de forma a viabilizar a análise de compatibilidade que se segue. Casos de projetos proeminentes de software livre cujo desenvolvimento foi afetado pelas implicações mencionadas ilustram a investigação, que é complementada por uma análise de ferramentas e metodologias existentes que auxiliam na gestão dos aspectos de licenciamento. / The purpose of this Master thesis is to present the most common free software licenses, regarding their main legal and inter-compatibility aspects, to help people involved in software development understand the implications of these licenses when using them in their projects. It contextualizes the licenses, both in terms of the Brazilian legislation, and regarding licensing restrictions, to make the subsequent compatibility analysis possible. Cases of free and open source software in which development was affected by the mentioned implications illustrate the research, and it is complemented by an analysis of existing tools and methodologies that assist in the management of licensing issues.

In this thesis, the diffusion of free and open source software (FOSS) on desktop PCs at Middle East Technical University in Ankara (METU) is investigated within the framework of the diffusion of innovation theory. This thesis aims to propose some policies for the migration to FOSS on desktop PCs at METU. The research is conducted through two similar web-based surveys. The first survey was held during 27-28 September 2003 after the examination of exemption for the IS100 course. The second survey was held between 23 March and 24 May 2004 in the whole of the METU campus. This survey was open to all students and academic and non-academic staff with a METU network account. There were 402 participants in the first survey and 1224 in the second. As expected, Microsoft OS rules the desktop PCs within the METU campus. According to the surveys, there is a rather large PC user base which could potentially migrate to GNU/Linux system. In addition to a large amount of data, it has been found out that a migration to FOSS is welcomed greatly by the users if the process is explained on the basis of public economic gains. However personal migration is still difficult if the user is left alone to install any new OS. Activities which will eventually increase the awareness for FOSS at METU, change in the curriculum of the IS100 course, collaboration among METU FOSS users and creation of a software catalog with possible FOSS equivalent for METU courses are some of the propositions which will eventually help the migration process. Furthermore, different innovation-decision models are discussed based on the research findings.

In recent years, there has been growing interest of governments and firms for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). However, FOSS is still a puzzlement for a wide spectrum of academic disciplines. Social scientists ask why FOSS hackers participate in FOSS if they do not get any monetary rewards. On the other hand firms ask, how a firm can earn money from FOSS. In this study, motivations of FOSS hackers and firms are taken as an interrelated phenomenon. For FOSS hackers, social and technical aspects of FOSS are essential. On the contrary to FOSS hackers, firms have profit oriented goals. In this context, conflicting and coinciding interests of FOSS hackers and firms are investigated through development of FOSS in Turkey. Software industry in Turkey is not developed enough and FOSS may play a prominent role in developing its own software industry. This study discusses FOSS both from the view of hackers and the firms in Turkey. In that respect, social conditions that make hackers voluntarily contribute, discrepancies between attitudes and behaviors of the firms and FOSS licenses are explored. According to these facts, possible FOSS business strategies which may be adopted in Turkey are presented.

Nesta dissertação são descritas as diferentes práticas culturais que compõem a comunidade brasileira de Software Livre e de Código Aberto com o objetivo de demonstrar como são criados os laços entre agentes para a constituição de redes. Com base no trabalho de dois anos e meio de pesquisa, assumimos o ângulo das práticas culturais e do reconhecimento de agentes para problematizar a oposição binária que domina grande parte do debate sobre altruísmo e interesse próprio em economias da dádiva. Ao centrarmos o foco nas redes de trabalho e prestígio, procuramos demonstrar quão heterogênea é a malha de redes da comunidade F/LOSS brasileira. As orientações teóricas e metodológicas da antropologia do dom de Caillé e da antropologia da tecnologia de Ingold e Pfaffenberger foram combinadas para a investigação da conformação da comunidade brasileira em três domínios experienciais: o técnico, o político e o cultural. O trabalho de pesquisa foi conduzido nos encontros nacionais da comunidade brasileira, bem como através das listas de discussão, wikis, blogs, portais de notícias e conversas informais na rede IRC Freenode. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa aponta para o surgimento de uma nova cultura tecnopolítica no Brasil, produto de práticas políticas e técnicas intimamente relacionadas ao Software Livre e de Código Aberto. / In this thesis, I turn to various agents in the Brazilian Free and Open Software community - developers, evangelists, politicians, and users - in order to discuss how gift economy works to shape commitments among them for the building of networks. Drawing on two and a half years of research, I take the angle of cultural practices and prestige to problematize the binary opposition between altruism and self-interest that dominates much of the literature. By focusing on social networks and the production of prestige, I am able to demonstrate how heterogeneous the composition of social networks are for the Brazilian economy of F/LOSS sharing. The theoretical and methodological orientation of Caillé's "Anthropologie du Don" and Pfaffenberger's and Ingold's "Anthropology of Technology" were combined to describe the community of Brazilian agents, engaged in three experiential domains: technical (producers), political (agents that promote F/OSS in the federal government), and cultural (artists whose work is empowered by F/OSS and the concept of Free Culture). The research work was conducted during the gatherings of F/OSS community in Brazil, as well as in electronic mailing lists, wikis, Internet sites and informal discussions via IRC. The development of the research points to the emergence of a new technical and political culture in Brazil, embodied by the "free software movement" therefore articulating political, cultural and technological practices.

Nesta dissertação são descritas as diferentes práticas culturais que compõem a comunidade brasileira de Software Livre e de Código Aberto com o objetivo de demonstrar como são criados os laços entre agentes para a constituição de redes. Com base no trabalho de dois anos e meio de pesquisa, assumimos o ângulo das práticas culturais e do reconhecimento de agentes para problematizar a oposição binária que domina grande parte do debate sobre altruísmo e interesse próprio em economias da dádiva. Ao centrarmos o foco nas redes de trabalho e prestígio, procuramos demonstrar quão heterogênea é a malha de redes da comunidade F/LOSS brasileira. As orientações teóricas e metodológicas da antropologia do dom de Caillé e da antropologia da tecnologia de Ingold e Pfaffenberger foram combinadas para a investigação da conformação da comunidade brasileira em três domínios experienciais: o técnico, o político e o cultural. O trabalho de pesquisa foi conduzido nos encontros nacionais da comunidade brasileira, bem como através das listas de discussão, wikis, blogs, portais de notícias e conversas informais na rede IRC Freenode. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa aponta para o surgimento de uma nova cultura tecnopolítica no Brasil, produto de práticas políticas e técnicas intimamente relacionadas ao Software Livre e de Código Aberto. / In this thesis, I turn to various agents in the Brazilian Free and Open Software community - developers, evangelists, politicians, and users - in order to discuss how gift economy works to shape commitments among them for the building of networks. Drawing on two and a half years of research, I take the angle of cultural practices and prestige to problematize the binary opposition between altruism and self-interest that dominates much of the literature. By focusing on social networks and the production of prestige, I am able to demonstrate how heterogeneous the composition of social networks are for the Brazilian economy of F/LOSS sharing. The theoretical and methodological orientation of Caillé's "Anthropologie du Don" and Pfaffenberger's and Ingold's "Anthropology of Technology" were combined to describe the community of Brazilian agents, engaged in three experiential domains: technical (producers), political (agents that promote F/OSS in the federal government), and cultural (artists whose work is empowered by F/OSS and the concept of Free Culture). The research work was conducted during the gatherings of F/OSS community in Brazil, as well as in electronic mailing lists, wikis, Internet sites and informal discussions via IRC. The development of the research points to the emergence of a new technical and political culture in Brazil, embodied by the "free software movement" therefore articulating political, cultural and technological practices.

Nesta dissertação são descritas as diferentes práticas culturais que compõem a comunidade brasileira de Software Livre e de Código Aberto com o objetivo de demonstrar como são criados os laços entre agentes para a constituição de redes. Com base no trabalho de dois anos e meio de pesquisa, assumimos o ângulo das práticas culturais e do reconhecimento de agentes para problematizar a oposição binária que domina grande parte do debate sobre altruísmo e interesse próprio em economias da dádiva. Ao centrarmos o foco nas redes de trabalho e prestígio, procuramos demonstrar quão heterogênea é a malha de redes da comunidade F/LOSS brasileira. As orientações teóricas e metodológicas da antropologia do dom de Caillé e da antropologia da tecnologia de Ingold e Pfaffenberger foram combinadas para a investigação da conformação da comunidade brasileira em três domínios experienciais: o técnico, o político e o cultural. O trabalho de pesquisa foi conduzido nos encontros nacionais da comunidade brasileira, bem como através das listas de discussão, wikis, blogs, portais de notícias e conversas informais na rede IRC Freenode. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa aponta para o surgimento de uma nova cultura tecnopolítica no Brasil, produto de práticas políticas e técnicas intimamente relacionadas ao Software Livre e de Código Aberto. / In this thesis, I turn to various agents in the Brazilian Free and Open Software community - developers, evangelists, politicians, and users - in order to discuss how gift economy works to shape commitments among them for the building of networks. Drawing on two and a half years of research, I take the angle of cultural practices and prestige to problematize the binary opposition between altruism and self-interest that dominates much of the literature. By focusing on social networks and the production of prestige, I am able to demonstrate how heterogeneous the composition of social networks are for the Brazilian economy of F/LOSS sharing. The theoretical and methodological orientation of Caillé's "Anthropologie du Don" and Pfaffenberger's and Ingold's "Anthropology of Technology" were combined to describe the community of Brazilian agents, engaged in three experiential domains: technical (producers), political (agents that promote F/OSS in the federal government), and cultural (artists whose work is empowered by F/OSS and the concept of Free Culture). The research work was conducted during the gatherings of F/OSS community in Brazil, as well as in electronic mailing lists, wikis, Internet sites and informal discussions via IRC. The development of the research points to the emergence of a new technical and political culture in Brazil, embodied by the "free software movement" therefore articulating political, cultural and technological practices.

Today’s software companies face the challenges of highly distributed development projects and constant changing requirements. To be competitive, the software time to market has to be reduced as much as possible while keeping the expected quality. Development methodologies try to address this challenges by introducing new practices, techniques and methods for communication, requirements management, quality assurance, etc. This thesis proposes the adoption of relevant Free/Libre/Open Source Software practices to improve industrial developments. Many FLOSS projects have proven very successful, producing high quality products with steady frequent releases. The selection of the FLOSS best practices that would benefit industrial developments, and its adaptation for a corporate environment is the aim of this study. To achieve this goal, a framework to compare FLOSS and industrial development methodologies has been created and executed. Three successful FLOSS projects where selected as study targets, as well as two Ericsson’s projects. The framework served to identify FLOSS methodology strengths and compare them with the Ericsson projects. Analysing the significant differences resulting from this comparison, FLOSS best practices were tailored to fit industrial development environments. The final results of the thesis are six adoption opportunities that aim to improve software quality and overall development productivity while increasing practitioners’ motivation and commitment.