@conference {1694, title = {Cream of the crop}, booktitle = {The International SymposiumProceedings of The International Symposium on Open Collaboration - OpenSym {\textquoteright}14}, year = {2014}, pages = {1 - 10}, publisher = {ACM Press}, organization = {ACM Press}, address = {Berlin, GermanyNew York, New York, USA}, abstract = {In open content communities like Wikipedia and StackOverflow and in open source software projects, a small proportion of users produce a majority of the content and take on much of the required community maintenance work. Understanding this class of users is crucial to creating and sustaining healthy communities. We carried out a mixed-method study of core contributors to the Cyclopath geographic wiki and bicycle routing web site. We present our findings and organize our discussion using concepts from activity theory. We found that the Cyclopath core contributors aren{\textquoteright}t the dedicated cyclists and that the characteristics of the community shape the site, the rules, and the tools for contributing. Additionally, we found that numerous aspects about the surrounding ecology of related systems and communities may help to shape how the site functions and views itself. We draw implications for future research and design from these findings. }, isbn = {9781450330169}, doi = {10.1145/2641580.2641609}, author = {Katherine Panciera and Mikhil Masli and Loren Terveen} } @conference {1692, title = {Hackers on Forking}, booktitle = {The International SymposiumProceedings of The International Symposium on Open Collaboration - OpenSym {\textquoteright}14}, year = {2014}, pages = {1 - 10}, publisher = {ACM Press}, organization = {ACM Press}, address = {Berlin, GermanyNew York, New York, USA}, abstract = {All open source licenses allow the copying of an existing body of code for use as the basis of a separate development project. This practice is commonly known as forking the code. This paper presents the results of a study in which 11 programmers were interviewed about their opinions on the right to fork and the impact of forking on open source software development. The results show that there is a general consensus among programmers{\textquoteright} views regarding both the favourable and unfavourable aspects that stem from the right to fork. Interestingly, while all programmers noted potential downsides to the right to fork, it was seen by all as an integral component of open source software, and a right that must not be infringed regardless of circumstance or outcome.}, isbn = {9781450330169}, doi = {10.1145/2641580.2641590}, attachments = {https://flosshub.org/sites/flosshub.org/files/p06.pdf}, author = {Nyman, Linus} } @conference {1693, title = {Initial Results from the Study of the Open Source Sector in Belgium}, booktitle = {The International SymposiumProceedings of The International Symposium on Open Collaboration - OpenSym {\textquoteright}14}, year = {2014}, pages = {1 - 5}, publisher = {ACM Press}, organization = {ACM Press}, address = {Berlin, GermanyNew York, New York, USA}, abstract = {The economy of FLOSS (Free and open source software) has been the subject of numerous studies and publications, particularly on the issue of business models. However, there are fewer studies on the local networks of FLOSS providers. This research focuses on the ecosystem of Belgian FLOSS providers and, more specifically, their geographical distribution, the activities, technologies and software they support, their business models, their economic performance and the relationships between companies. The research is based on a directory containing nearly 150 companies. This directory led to the creation of a specialized search engine that helped to improve annotation. The research also uses financial data provided by the Belgian Central Balance Sheet Office. The initial results of this study show a concentration in major economic areas. The businesses are more active in the services and are heavily involved activities such as infrastructure software and Web development, activities which were common in the early years of free software development. Services for the support of business software is also common. A first analysis of the graph of relationships between providers{\textquoteright} websites highlights the role that is played by the multinational IT companies, by FLOSS editors, by commercial FLOSS associations and especially by the Walloon centers of competence that offer vast training catalogs that are dedicated to FLOSS. This research opens up many perspectives for improving the automation of the company directory updates, the analysis of the relationship between enterprises, and the automation of the financial analysis of companies. }, isbn = {9781450330169}, doi = {10.1145/2641580.2641591}, author = {Viseur, Robert} } @conference {1690, title = {"The Institutionalization of Digital Openness"}, booktitle = {The International SymposiumProceedings of The International Symposium on Open Collaboration - OpenSym {\textquoteright}14}, year = {2014}, pages = {1 - 2}, publisher = {ACM Press}, organization = {ACM Press}, address = {Berlin, GermanyNew York, New York, USA}, abstract = {Around the world national and municipal governments launch open data initiatives with declared goals like increased efficiency, transparency or economic growth. However, although little of these effects have been proven, more and more administrations open up their datasets to the public. The dissertation project describes this phenomenon as the ongoing institutionalization of digital openness in the field of public sector information. With empirical evidence from three case studies in large European cities the research project intends to theorize how NGOs, hackers and certain civil servants turn open data into an institution, which more and more public bodies feel the need to adapt to. }, isbn = {9781450330169}, doi = {10.1145/2641580.2641626}, author = {Maximilian Heimst{\"a}dt} } @conference {1691, title = {Older Adults and Free/Open Source Software}, booktitle = {The International SymposiumProceedings of The International Symposium on Open Collaboration - OpenSym {\textquoteright}14}, year = {2014}, pages = {1 - 10}, publisher = {ACM Press}, organization = {ACM Press}, address = {Berlin, GermanyNew York, New York, USA}, abstract = {The global population is aging rapidly, and older adults are becoming increasingly technically savvy. This paper explores ways to engage these individuals to contribute to free/open source software (FOSS) projects. We conducted a pilot diary study to explore motivations, barriers, and the contribution processes of first-time contributors in a real time, qualitative manner. In addition, we measured their self-efficacy before and after their participation. We found that what drove participants were intrinsic motivations, altruism, and internal values, which differed from previous work with older adults and with the general FOSS population. We also found that self-efficacy did not change significantly, even when participants encountered significant barriers or setbacks. The top 3 barriers were lack of communication, installation issues, and documentation issues. We found that asking for and receiving help, and avoiding difficult development environments were more likely to lead to success. To verify these results, we encourage a future large-scale diary study that involves multiple demographics. Given our pilot study, we recommend that future outreach efforts involving older adults focus on how to effectively communicate and build community amongst older contributors. }, isbn = {9781450330169}, doi = {10.1145/2641580.2641589}, author = {Davidson, Jennifer and Umme Ayda Mannan and Rithika Naik and Ishneet Dua and Jensen, Carlos} }