Knowledge, Communication and Innovation: the case of Open Source Software as Open Media

The understanding of the major characteristics of Linux Operative System and, more in general, the analysis of the so-called Open Source Phenomenon, is nowadays a central issue in order to appreciate the ongoing evolution of software industry. Free/Open Source Software model may appears a “revolution” in the way of thinking about software development, distribution and use. But, at a closer glance, it reveals itself more as an “evolution” along the path of “tinkering with software” typical of the Hacker Tech-Culture since the beginning of sixties. In fact the “open source way” of developing software results from the hackers habit of sharing technological knowledge and it represents a perfection of this, due to the availably of new communication technologies. The aim of this research is to explain this evolution, to point out its historical, economics and technological determinants and to link it with the evolution of the “communicational medium” used by the open source ...