2. Summary Findings
• 90% of respondents use open source in their work.
• 80% indicated they use OSS to save time and money by using existing code instead
of creating code from scratch.
• The drive to be more productive is met for many respondents (62 %) by open
source’s greater choice of tools, platforms, communities, and projects.
• 44% of developers contribute to open source to improve their careers and
credibility. The theme of developing software to improve credibility is a common
one.
• 70% percent of Outercurve survey respondents use forums to stay in touch with
project communities.
3. OSS – Frame of Reference
W he n I think a b o ut o p e n s o urc e s o ftwa re I: (c he c k a ll tha t a p p ly )
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
What the hell
palpitations
Yawn it bores
Appreciate
that is out
great code
Get heart
because I
all of the
love it so
source?
is open
me.
4. What Do Respondents Use OSS For?
I us e OSS fo r: (c he c k a ll tha t a p p ly )
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
My work as a My work as a Fun – I like to Save time and Find and use high Greater choice of The Four Freedoms Open source
developer in developer for a develop my own money by using quality code that has tools, platforms, community street
corporate IT hardware/ software projects as a hobby existing code instead already been tested communities, cred
vendor of creating code from and is constantly projects e.g. Git,
scratch being refined Android, Apache,
Linux, SourceForge
5. How and Why Developers Contribute
W hic h b e s t d e s c rib e s y o ur p a rtic ip a tio n in OS S p ro je c t
c o mmunitie s ?
I’m a project committer. (I have
write access to the code base)
I constantly contribute back to
OSS project communities.
I frequently contribute back.
I occasionally contribute back.
I use OSS, but rarely contribute
back.
I use OSS, but never contribute
back.
W ha t b e s t d e s c rib e s y o ur re a s o ns fo r c o ntrib uting o r no t
I use OSS, but never contribute c o ntrib uting to p ro je c t c o mmunitie s ? Che c k a ll tha t a p p ly .
back - but only because my
company’s lawyers won’t let me
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
I’d like to contribute
because I want to
because it benefits
I contribute back
I had no idea I was
my reputation and
required according
I contribute back
contribute back.
I contribute back
back, but I don’t
give back and
supposed to
because it’s
know how.
6. Maintaining Project Activity
How do you keep OSS projects going? (Check all that apply.)
50.0%
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Meritocracy approach Rewards and incentives Community – we’ve built PR/ marketing – we Open source software Self reliance – do the I don’t – I don’t manage NA (not applicable) – I
to encourage active and maintain an active promote the project and foundations – we rely on best I/ we can on my/ our any OSS projects don’t use OSS
contribution community of developers encourage participation the support and own
committed to projects through PR and resources of an open
marketing source software
foundation/ organization
(Examples: Free
Software, Apache, Perl,
Eclipse, Mozilla,
Outercurve, Linux
H o w d o y o u k e e p in to uc h with y o ur d e v e lo p e r c o mmunity ?
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Forges Forums Wikis IRC Other
9. Making Use of OSS Foundations
D o y o u o r d o e s y o ur c o mp a ny / o rg a niza tio n re ly o n OS S
o rg a niza tio ns lik e the Linux Fo und a tio n, the Fre e S o ftwa re
Fo und a tio n, the A p a c he Fo und a tio n a nd / o r the Oute rc urv e
Fo und a tio n?
Yes, I/we rely on OSS
support foundations to
facilitate our use of OSS as
well as contributing back to
the community.
No, I/we don’t work with such
foundations.
I’m aware of OSS support
foundations, but I’m not
certain of their purpose and
how it applies to me and/or
my company/organization.
I don’t know anything about
OSS support organizations.
11. Developer Experience
H o w lo ng ha v e y o u b e e n d e v e lo p ing s o ftwa re ?
More than 40 years
30-40 years
20-30 years
10-20 years
5-10 years
2-5 years
Just getting started
