Open Source ecosystems: Corporate vs Hybrid production model

Savio Rodriguez recently posted commenting MySQL Quality Contribution Program observing that MySQL’s list of leading community contributors isn’t stacked with MySQL employees. Then he eventually ended talking about the difference between “good community” vs. “good company”.

Mural by M.C. Escher

M.C. Escher’s Mural by deVos

Yesterday talking about the symbiotic approach I mentioned that MySQL and Sun are beginning to approach their communities more effectively, and are likely to see positive returns very soon in my opinion - here I am considering that a significant percentage of contributed code come from developers outside the firm in few known Open Source projects.

Reading Savio’s post I got that the job I did few years ago classifying the FLOSS production model into three organizational categories (Corporate, Voluntary and Hybrid) still makes sense. Projects falling under the Corporate category - i.e. where all stages of software production are carried on within the organization - have the same organizational attributes of projects conducted under a traditional firm. The Corporate category miss the opportunity to get involved individuals (partially) self-selected, and as clearly stated Savio it makes a difference.

Read his full article.

Technorati Tags: Open Source, Community, MySQL, Sun

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2 Responses to “Open Source ecosystems: Corporate vs Hybrid production model”


  1. 1 rufo

    there is a typo at “idealtypically” :-)

  2. 2 Roberto Galoppini

    You learnt a new word today, isn’t it? ;-)
    To be honest I didn’t know it, my mentor Giampaolo Garzarelli taught me.

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About the Editor

Roberto Galoppini on Open Source Software
Roberto has over 20 years experience in the computer industry, and has spent the last 10 years working in the intersection of open source software and business development. Roberto has taken an active interest in different open source projects and organizations, he also served on some advisory boards, and helped large IT vendors, open source vendors and customers to design and deploy their open source strategies. He works at SourceForge, and opinions expressed here don't necessarily represent employer's positions, strategies, or opinion.