Innovations in open source software

Abstract

In this analysis we take for our consideration Software products that have originated in the Open Source domain. Amongst them we consider those that are mainly targeted at the developer community. We use a semiotic perspective in analyzing them to understand what is the meaning that both the producers and the consumers (namely the developers) adduce to these products. We then evolve a model to understand the genesis of success or failure. We consider these products as innovative products inasmuch they involved migrating successful concepts from one domains into another domain. The products that we consider are Linux, Apache Web Server and WWW, which are acknowledged successes. We also investigate into Mozilla, HURD and CERN HTTPd, which have failed to take-off for a long time since inception. We use the standard tools of semiotics, like Syntagmatic analysis, Paradigmatic Analysis, Tropes, Denotation/Connotation, Articulation, Modes of Address to get a handle on how the product under consideration can be classified as an innovation as also where it fits in the mental space of the producers and users.