XM Existing Related Projects

This is key. Very few ideas are original, so when building an idea or practice, it is essential to identify and build upon projects and results that are already available or that are currently being developed. This is where the true power of open source lies - building on others' work instead of reinventing the wheel.

This building upon others' work can exist on many levels:

• Software tools - relevant tools that could be used within the GVCS
• Existing Support Organizations - there may be many organizations that offer free or accessible support on topics of interest, from organizational, technical, to practical support.
• Existing plans and designs - from patents, open source projects, old books, etc.
• Existing allied open source projects - projects that are currently working on the same or similar topic
• Existing allied closed source projects - these may be motivated to contribute their work into the commons
• Fee-based support - this involves paying for consultants or other support