Open Source Software Development

Abstract

Course Description Over the past decade the phenomena of Open Source Software has moved from a technical curiousity to the mainstream of business practice. With the emergence of production quality systems such as Linux, MySQL, and Apache, Open Source technologies are now a viable option for firms develping their IT infrastructure. However, the distinctive nature of Open Source communities, firms, and technologies gives rise to many issues different from those encountered when acquiring systems from traditional vendors. In this course, we will examine issues associated with Open Source technologies. Through a combination of readings, discussion, presentations, and hand-on projects we will examine (i) characteristics of key Open Source technologies (including, but not limited to, Linux, MySQL, and Apache), (ii) the nature of Open Source communities and development processes, and (iii) the evolving structure of the Open Source industry. In each case, the focus will be on understanding the implications for businesses interested in making use of Open Source technologies.