Book description
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 toward a common goal. Not just for developers who are considering starting their own free software project, this book will also help those who want to participate in the process at any level.
The book tackles this very complex topic by distilling it down into easily understandable parts. Starting with the basics of project management, it details specific tools used in free software projects, including version control, IRC, bug tracking, and Wikis. Author Karl Fogel, known for his work on CVS and Subversion, offers practical advice on how to set up and use a range of tools in combination with open mailing lists and archives. He also provides several chapters on the essentials of recruiting and motivating developers, as well as how to gain much-needed publicity for your project.
While managing a team of enthusiastic developers -- most of whom you've never even met -- can be challenging, it can also be fun. Producing Open Source Software takes this into account, too, as it speaks of the sheer pleasure to be had from working with a motivated team of free software developers.
Publisher resources
Table of contents
- Dedication
- Foreword
- Preface
- 1. Introduction
-
2. Getting Started
- 2.1. First, Look Around
-
2.2. Starting from What You Have
- 2.2.1. Choose a Good Name
- 2.2.2. Have a Clear Mission Statement
- 2.2.3. State that the Project Is Free
- 2.2.4. Features and Requirements List
- 2.2.5. Development Status
- 2.2.6. Downloads
- 2.2.7. Version Control and Bug Tracker Access
- 2.2.8. Communications Channels
- 2.2.9. Developer Guidelines
- 2.2.10. Documentation
- 2.2.11. Example Output and Screenshots
- 2.2.12. Canned Hosting
- 2.3. Choosing a License and Applying It
- 2.4. Setting the Tone
- 2.5. Announcing
- 3. Technical Infrastructure
- 4. Social and Political Infrastructure
- 5. Money
- 6. Communications
- 7. Packaging, Releasing, and Daily Development
-
8. Managing Volunteers
- 8.1. Getting the Most Out of Volunteers
- 8.2. Share Management Tasks as Well as Technical Tasks
- 8.3. Transitions
- 8.4. Committers
- 8.5. Credit
- 8.6. Forks
- 9. Licenses, Copyrights, and Patents
- 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
- About the Author
- Colophon
- Copyright
Product information
- Title: Producing Open Source Software
- Author(s):
- Release date: October 2005
- Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
- ISBN: 9780596007591
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