Abstract: The success of software development using third party components highly depends on the ability to select a suitable component for the intended application. The evidence shows that there is limited knowledge about current industrial OTS selection practices. As a result, there is often a gap between theory and practice, and the proposed methods for supporting selection are rarely adopted in the industrial practice. This paper’s goal is to investigate the actual industrial practice of component selection in order to provide an initial empirical basis that allows the reconciliation of research and industrial endeavors. The study consisted of semi-structured interviews with 23 employees from 20 different software-intensive companies that mostly develop web information system applications. It provides qualitative information that help to further understand these practices, and emphasize some aspects that have been overlooked by researchers. For instance, although the literature claims that component repositories are important for locating reusable components; these are hardly used in industrial practice. Instead, other resources that have not received considerable attention are used with this aim. Practices and potential market niches for software-intensive companies have been also identified. The results are valuable from both the research and the industrial perspectives as they provide a basis for formulating well-substatiated hypotheses and more effective improvement strategies.
Abstract: Strictly speaking, Open Source Software is any program that is covered by an Open Source Software license. However, the notion of Open Source Software Development conjures images of high-quality, market dominating products developed by armies of volunteer programmers, who work only for the joy of programming. Certainly, banner projects like Apache, the Linux kernel, and Mozilla/Firefox resemble this notion, even if they do employ significant numbers of paid programmers. This paper examines three Open Source Software projects related to the Vista Electronic Medical Record system developed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and released to the public domain. While all three claim to be “Open Source” projects, there is considerable deviation from the strong community-oriented model that Linux, Apache, and Mozilla represent.
Abstract: Strictly speaking, Open Source Software is any program that is covered by an Open Source Software license. However, the notion of Open Source Software Development conjures images of high-quality, market dominating products developed by armies of volunteer programmers, who work only for the joy of programming. Certainly, banner projects like Apache, the Linux kernel, and Mozilla/Firefox resemble this notion, even if they do employ significant numbers of paid programmers. This paper examines three Open Source Software projects related to the Vista Electronic Medical Record system developed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and released to the public domain. While all three claim to be “Open Source” projects, there is considerable deviation from the strong community-oriented model that Linux, Apache, and Mozilla represent.
Abstract: This paper discusses the meaning of open source in an industrial context. Building a grounded theory from an industry-driven R&D project, our analysis shows that open source in an industrial context is multifaceted. We find that the meaning of open source must be established in the context of the individual organization.
Abstract: Is Open Source Software (OSS) undergoing a transformation to a more commercially viable form? We have performed a survey to investigate the adoption of OSS in the Norwegian software industry. The survey was based on an extensive screening of software companies, with more than 700 responses. The survey results support the transformation predicted by Fitzgerald [4]. Close to 50% of the software industry integrate OSS components into vertical solutions serving all major business sectors. In addition, more than 30% of the 95 respondents in our survey have more than 40% of their income from OSS related services or software. The extensive adoption of OSS in the software industry may be a precursor of the OSS adoption in other business sectors.
Abstract: Industry uses Open Source Software (OSS) to a greater and greater extent. We have defined four industrial OSS roles; OSS provider, OSS integrator, OSS participant and Inner Source Software (ISS) participant. Based on these four roles we have performed a survey in the ITEA COSI project. We provide initial answers to what motivates companies to undertake these roles, what are the advantages and challenges of undertaking them, and which development practices they use while undertaking these roles.
Abstract: Metrics used on development of expert systems is not a well investigated problem area. This article suggests some metrics, to be used to measure the maturity of the conceptualization process and the complexity of the decision process in the problem, domain. We propose some further work to be done with these metrics. Applying those metrics makes new and interesting problems,, concerning the structure of knowledge to surface.
Abstract: Metrics used on development of expert systems is not a well investigated problem area. This article suggests some metrics to be used to measure the maturity of the conceptualization process and the complexity of the decision process in the problem domain. We propose some further work to be done with these metrics. Applying those metrics makes new and interesting problems, concerning the structure of knowledge to surface.
