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How are open source projects not chaos?

Posted by TonyB • 5/02/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: anarchy, chaos, open source

How do so many people work and create together in open source environments such as Linux, Apache, Firefox and there not be anarchy?

User Comments

5/02/09

Friday13

Because they don't allow just anyone to throw code in there, they plan carefully (roadmaps, etc.), and are coordinated by a good BDFL (Benevolent Dictator For Life).

And, of course, they ask and receive plenty of user feedback for in-development features and usually fix problems faster than their proprietary counterparts.

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5/02/09

free111

comment removed by the community.

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1. 5/02/09
  
  cookingasshole
  
  wait you forgot the link to your blog!!!!
5/02/09

free111

comment removed by the community.

[reply]
1. 5/02/09
  
  cookingasshole
  
  thanks
5/02/09

codesucker

I don't know alot about open source projects, except that I support them! Free software has come far - I haven't really contributed anything to any of projects, so maybe I shouldn't answer this question.

But large code projects with multiple programmers are usually kept in order by a CVS (concurrency versioning system).

By assigning different versions on each submit and record keeping, not only can the programmers collaborate without writing over eachothers code, but we know exactly who to blame if/when something goes wrong.

I'm sure these opensource guys use some sort of CVS to keep everything straight, I can't imagine working on a project with 100s of programmers

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5/03/09

wehireu

Open source is built on failure. 95% of open source projects are basically never used on Sourceforge less than 3000 users. Only 5% make it to the top and succeed. Those that reach the top become extremely popular and get lots and lots of contributions making them better than most other programs. There is a very fast Darwinian process which allows lots of failures or incomplete projects and then a few really great programs. Because open source is free people can afford to experiment a lot, make lots and lots of programs so there is a tremendous pool of programs to draw from. If you go to Fresh Meat another site like Sourceforge, it is littered with tons of incomplete, alpha and beta programs.

Apache, linux, and Firefox are the successors of thousands of other attempts to create similar programs. Those that are chaos very quickly drop off the map.

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