Open Source and Collaborative

From Open Source Ecology
Jump to: navigation, search

Collaborative means done in a way that allows any other qualified developer to contribute to a project, with minimal friction in the process.

Open source means that which follows the OSHWA Definition. See Open Source.

Many technologies that are open source are not developed collaboratively. The typical model is: a small team develops, and releases when done. There are 2 issues with this: (1) design is not generated collaboratively. 2 - since a project is 'never done', collaboration from the onset is more likely to produce a working product at all.

Outside of usual open source project, the City of Encinitas ADU is a great example of an open resource that is developed non-collaboratively.

Many collaboratively developed technologies, such as projects on HeroX or Local Motors are not open source.

Many collaborative technologies (such as Google Slides) are not developed collaboratively, and are not open source. They may be free, but they are missing the 4 Freedoms of Open Source.


In summary - open source AND collaborative are not the same thing. OSE emphasizes open source AND collaborive as a prerequisite to solving Pressing World Issues - and thus requires both aspects to be present in order for fruitful collaboration to exist.