mosc2010 jeremy
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
Benevolent Dictatorship
in Open Source Software Projects
Jeremy Malcolm
Project Coordinator for IP and Communications
Consumers International
MSC Malaysia Open Source Conference 2010
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
Outline
1 Anarchy and OrderA Bit of Theory
Application to Software Development
2 Benevolent DictatorshipQuestioning the Bazaar
An Explanation
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Network design 101
Compare the institutional structure of a software developmentproject to the design of a computer network such as the Internet.
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Network design 101
Compare the institutional structure of a software developmentproject to the design of a computer network such as the Internet.
NFSNET
Hierarchicalstructure(top-down)
All hosts connectedto the NSFNET
backbonePackets routedbetween hosts bythe backbone
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
A h d O d
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Network design 101
Compare the institutional structure of a software developmentproject to the design of a computer network such as the Internet.
The modern Internet
Distributed meshnetwork (peer topeer)
Routing functiondecentralised usingBGP
Multiple redundantpaths between hosts
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
The Cathedral and the Bazaar
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and Order
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Bureaucratic Software Development
Traditionally:
Software development was hierarchical
Described by Eric Raymond as the cathedral model
Bureaucracy considered the most efficient by Weber
Hierarchical division of labour and written records
But then...
Bureaucracy becomes an iron cageParticularly unsuitable for (good) programmers!
Hackers should be judged by their hacking, not
bogus criteria such as degrees, age, race, or position.
Stephen Levy, Hackers
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and Order
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Bureaucratic Software Development
Traditionally:
Software development was hierarchical
Described by Eric Raymond as the cathedral model
Bureaucracy considered the most efficient by Weber
Hierarchical division of labour and written records
But then...
Bureaucracy becomes an iron cageParticularly unsuitable for (good) programmers!
Hackers should be judged by their hacking, not
bogus criteria such as degrees, age, race, or position.
Stephen Levy, Hackers
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and Order
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8/9/2019 MOSC2010 Jeremy
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Decentralised Software Development
The Bazaar modelA great babbling bazaar of differing agendas and approachesproduces a stable systemNow also seen in Wikipedia, Creative Commons
Why do hackers work voluntarily?Economic explanations
A barter system, a way to further your career
We know the real reason... it is fun!
And it is fun because it is creative
And creative pursuit is fun because it is empowering
Cant proprietary models also be empowering?
Agile software development methodologies
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderA Bi f Th
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Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Decentralised Software Development
The Bazaar modelA great babbling bazaar of differing agendas and approachesproduces a stable systemNow also seen in Wikipedia, Creative Commons
Why do hackers work voluntarily?Economic explanations
A barter system, a way to further your career
We know the real reason... it is fun!
And it is fun because it is creative
And creative pursuit is fun because it is empowering
Cant proprietary models also be empowering?
Agile software development methodologies
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderA Bit f Th
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yBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Decentralised Software Development
The Bazaar modelA great babbling bazaar of differing agendas and approachesproduces a stable systemNow also seen in Wikipedia, Creative Commons
Why do hackers work voluntarily?Economic explanations
A barter system, a way to further your career
We know the real reason... it is fun!
And it is fun because it is creative
And creative pursuit is fun because it is empowering
Cant proprietary models also be empowering?
Agile software development methodologies
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderA Bit of Theory
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yBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
A Bit of TheoryApplication to Software Development
Decentralised Software Development
The Bazaar modelA great babbling bazaar of differing agendas and approachesproduces a stable systemNow also seen in Wikipedia, Creative Commons
Why do hackers work voluntarily?Economic explanations
A barter system, a way to further your career
We know the real reason... it is fun!
And it is fun because it is creative
And creative pursuit is fun because it is empowering
Cant proprietary models also be empowering?
Agile software development methodologies
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderQuestioning the Bazaar
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
Questioning the BazaarAn Explanation
Hierarchy and Open Source
OSS projects are actually pretty hierarchical
The Benevolent Dictator for Life (BDFL)
Linus If you still dont like it, thats ok: thats why Im boss.
I simply know better than you do Torvalds
Larry Perl Wall, Andrew Samba Tridgell, etcMark Shuttleworth as SABDFL
Also hierarchical institutions
Mozilla Foundation, Sun Microsystems, ASF
But what happened to we dont like hierarchy?Does hierarchy actually help?
Success of Linux, Mozilla, Apache, OpenOffice.org
Not bureaucracies but meritocracies
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and Orderl i hi
Questioning the Bazaar
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
Questioning the BazaarAn Explanation
Hierarchy and Open Source
OSS projects are actually pretty hierarchical
The Benevolent Dictator for Life (BDFL)
Linus If you still dont like it, thats ok: thats why Im boss.
I simply know better than you do Torvalds
Larry Perl Wall, Andrew Samba Tridgell, etcMark Shuttleworth as SABDFL
Also hierarchical institutions
Mozilla Foundation, Sun Microsystems, ASF
But what happened to we dont like hierarchy?Does hierarchy actually help?
Success of Linux, Mozilla, Apache, OpenOffice.org
Not bureaucracies but meritocracies
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderB l Di hi
Questioning the Bazaar
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
Questioning the BazaarAn Explanation
Hierarchy and Open Source
OSS projects are actually pretty hierarchical
The Benevolent Dictator for Life (BDFL)
Linus If you still dont like it, thats ok: thats why Im boss.
I simply know better than you do Torvalds
Larry Perl Wall, Andrew Samba Tridgell, etcMark Shuttleworth as SABDFL
Also hierarchical institutions
Mozilla Foundation, Sun Microsystems, ASF
But what happened to we dont like hierarchy?Does hierarchy actually help?
Success of Linux, Mozilla, Apache, OpenOffice.org
Not bureaucracies but meritocracies
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderB l t Di t t hi
Questioning the Bazaar
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
Q gAn Explanation
Debian and Ubuntu: A Case Study
The Debian project is very consensus-focussed
Project Leader is elected by developers and is required
to make decisions which are consistent with the
consensus of the opinions of the Developers
Any decision of the Project Leader can be overruled by anordinary resolution of developers
Ubuntu is much more hierarchical
Launched in 2004 due to three-year gap between Debianwoody and sargeSABDFL appoints and has a casting vote on its TechnicalBoard and Community CouncilHierarchy between MOTU, Core Developers and Members
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Questioning the Bazaar
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
gAn Explanation
Debian and Ubuntu: A Case Study
The Debian project is very consensus-focussed
Project Leader is elected by developers and is required
to make decisions which are consistent with the
consensus of the opinions of the Developers
Any decision of the Project Leader can be overruled by anordinary resolution of developers
Ubuntu is much more hierarchical
Launched in 2004 due to three-year gap between Debianwoody and sargeSABDFL appoints and has a casting vote on its TechnicalBoard and Community CouncilHierarchy between MOTU, Core Developers and Members
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Questioning the Bazaar
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
An Explanation
The Open Source Licence
Open source licence enforces benevolence
Four freedoms of GNU free software:
To use, adapt, distribute, release adaptations
Exit-based empowerment for developers
When hierarchy isnt working, projects fork
Onerous trade mark conditions (Iceweasel)Lead development not meritocratic (PHP-Nuke)
Alternative feature focus (NeoOffice)
Transaction costs prevent projects forking
Development of a community of developers and users(Samba-TNG)
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Questioning the BazaarA E l i
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
An Explanation
The Open Source Licence
Open source licence enforces benevolence
Four freedoms of GNU free software:
To use, adapt, distribute, release adaptations
Exit-based empowerment for developers
When hierarchy isnt working, projects fork
Onerous trade mark conditions (Iceweasel)Lead development not meritocratic (PHP-Nuke)
Alternative feature focus (NeoOffice)
Transaction costs prevent projects forking
Development of a community of developers and users(Samba-TNG)
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Questioning the BazaarA E l ti
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Benevolent DictatorshipSummary
An Explanation
The Open Source Licence
Open source licence enforces benevolence
Four freedoms of GNU free software:
To use, adapt, distribute, release adaptations
Exit-based empowerment for developers
When hierarchy isnt working, projects fork
Onerous trade mark conditions (Iceweasel)Lead development not meritocratic (PHP-Nuke)
Alternative feature focus (NeoOffice)
Transaction costs prevent projects forking
Development of a community of developers and users(Samba-TNG)
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Questioning the BazaarAn Explanation
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pSummary
An Explanation
The Open Source Licence
Open source licence enforces benevolence
Four freedoms of GNU free software:
To use, adapt, distribute, release adaptations
Exit-based empowerment for developers
When hierarchy isnt working, projects fork
Onerous trade mark conditions (Iceweasel)Lead development not meritocratic (PHP-Nuke)
Alternative feature focus (NeoOffice)
Transaction costs prevent projects forking
Development of a community of developers and users(Samba-TNG)
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Questioning the BazaarAn Explanation
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SummaryAn Explanation
Balancing Order and Anarchy
Software development should be funBut some hierarchy is necessary
Software projects run on social capital
Financial capital produces incomeSocial capital produces MBCA
Mutually Beneficial Collective Action
Social capital can be increased by fostering
An empowering, consensual processNorms of reciprocal voluntary participation
Debian tried paying some of its developers: bad move
Product differentiation
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Questioning the BazaarAn Explanation
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SummaryAn Explanation
Balancing Order and Anarchy
Software development should be funBut some hierarchy is necessary
Software projects run on social capital
Financial capital produces incomeSocial capital produces MBCA
Mutually Beneficial Collective Action
Social capital can be increased by fostering
An empowering, consensual processNorms of reciprocal voluntary participation
Debian tried paying some of its developers: bad move
Product differentiation
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
S
Questioning the BazaarAn Explanation
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SummaryAn Explanation
Balancing Order and Anarchy
Software development should be funBut some hierarchy is necessary
Software projects run on social capital
Financial capital produces incomeSocial capital produces MBCA
Mutually Beneficial Collective Action
Social capital can be increased by fostering
An empowering, consensual processNorms of reciprocal voluntary participation
Debian tried paying some of its developers: bad move
Product differentiation
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
S
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Summary
Conclusion
Hierarchy implies power, and power corruptsBut is more orderly, predictable and accountable
Decentralisation is more empowering (ie fun)
But it relies on its participants good faith
OSS can offers the best of both worlds due to
Exit-based empowerment created by its licenceCreating social capital, raising transaction costs
Rules for a good benevolent dictator
Make sure developers are empoweredMake sure everybody has funRealise developers can fork the project if unsatisfied
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
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Summary
Conclusion
Hierarchy implies power, and power corruptsBut is more orderly, predictable and accountable
Decentralisation is more empowering (ie fun)
But it relies on its participants good faith
OSS can offers the best of both worlds due to
Exit-based empowerment created by its licenceCreating social capital, raising transaction costs
Rules for a good benevolent dictator
Make sure developers are empoweredMake sure everybody has funRealise developers can fork the project if unsatisfied
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Anarchy and OrderBenevolent Dictatorship
Summary
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Summary
Conclusion
Hierarchy implies power, and power corruptsBut is more orderly, predictable and accountable
Decentralisation is more empowering (ie fun)
But it relies on its participants good faith
OSS can offers the best of both worlds due to
Exit-based empowerment created by its licenceCreating social capital, raising transaction costs
Rules for a good benevolent dictator
Make sure developers are empoweredMake sure everybody has funRealise developers can fork the project if unsatisfied
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
Appendix For Further Reading
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For Further Reading I
Stephen Levy.Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution.Penguin Books, 2001.
Linus Torvalds and David Diamond.Just For Fun: the Story of an Accidental Revolutionary.
HarperCollins, 2001.
Eric Raymonds.
The Cathedral and the Bazaar.http://www.catb.org/.
Jeremy Malcolm Benevolent Dictatorship
http://www.catb.org/http://www.catb.org/http://www.catb.org/http://goforward/http://find/http://goback/