Front cover image for Producing open source software : how to run a successful free software project

Producing open source software : how to run a successful free software project

Karl Fogel
The corporate market is now embracing free, "open source" software like never before, as evidenced by the recent success of the technologies underlying LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP). Each is the result of a publicly collaborative process among numerous developers who volunteer their time and energy to create better software. The truth is, however, that the overwhelming majority of free software projects fail. To help you beat the odds, O'Reilly has put together Producing Open Source Software, a guide that recommends tried and true steps to help free software developers work together to
eBook, English, 2005
O'Reilly, Sebastopol, Calif., 2005
1 online resource (302 pages)
9780596007591, 9780596523664, 9780596552992, 0596007590, 0596523661, 0596552998
64549872
Foreword Preface 1. Introduction History The Situation Today 2. Getting Started First, Look Around Starting from What You Have Choosing a License and Applying It Setting the Tone Announcing 3. Technical Infrastructure What a Project Needs Mailing Lists Version Control Bug Tracker IRC/Real-Time Chat Systems Wikis Web Site 4. Social and Political Infrastructure Forkability Benevolent Dictators Consensus-Based Democracy Writing It All Down 5. Money Types of Involvement Hire for the Long Term Appear as Many, Not as One Be Open About Your Motivations Money Can't Buy You Love Contracting Funding Non-Programming Activities Marketing 6. Communications You Are What You Write Avoiding Common Pitfalls Difficult People Handling Growth No Conversations in the Bug Tracker Publicity 7. Packaging, Releasing, and Daily Development Release Numbering Release Branches Stabilizing a Release Packaging Testing and Releasing Maintaining Multiple Release Lines Releases and Daily Development 8. Managing Volunteers Getting the Most Out of Volunteers Share Management Tasks as Well as Technical Tasks Transitions Committers Credit Forks 9. Licenses, Copyrights, and Patents Terminology Aspects of Licenses The GPL and License Compatibility Choosing a License Copyright Assignment and Ownership Dual Licensing Schemes Patents Further Resources A. Free Version Control Systems B. Free Bug Trackers C. Why Should I Care What Color the Bikeshed Is?D. Example Instructions for Reporting Bugs Index