[OT] Fundamental Issues with Open Source Software Development

[Alma J Wetzker]

Klaus-Peter Schrage wrote:
> http://www.citizenlab.org/opensource/
I have to wonder if the project has reached a 1.x release number.

> Canadian researcher Michelle Levesque has thoroughly examined an Open 
> Source Project (which she kept anonymous) and found "the five most 
> important flaws with Open Source software development to be as follows:
> 1) User interface design
I worked on a project for a bit over a year.  I did the "internal" feature 
stuff and there were four programmers working on the user interface.  That 
seems to be about the correct balance between features and interface in time 
and effort.

> 2) Documentation
Yeah, read the code.  ;)

> 3) Feature-centric development
I like projects where you add the features you want, get them working 
correctly and move on.  I am just anal-retentive enough to make sure they all 
work together in various combinations.  (expect is great.)

> 4) Programming for the self
How many programming products do you know that did not start as someone 
needing something that they could not do with another program?  (Be that a 
feature, knowledge of a system or not enough money to buy the "real" package.)

> 5) Religious blindness"
FOSS programmers tend to be passionate about their projects.  That is a sign 
of a good programmer, they care about the system and the uses.  It seems to be 
more focus and less blindness.  Besides, Has anyone heard a MCSE talk about 
linux v windoze lately?  There are idiots on all sides, that has nothing to do 
with the merits of the position.

> 
> Has someone an idea what "Project X" could be? At first sight, I thought 
> of the ALSA Project or The Gimp, but Project X seems to come with a 
> calendar ...
> Klaus

With the many FOSS products available, it is foolish to generalize too much. 
Various programmers have various strengths.  As for copying an interface 
directly, as the author suggests, that may violate legal as well as ethical 
principles.  We are a maturing community, give us time.

     -- Alma