Read Between the Lines {of Code}, Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software Development in Perspective.

Abstract

The principles of free and open source software development are academically understood to be at odds with property- and copyrights; some of the very fundamental principles of contemporary neoliberal society. As a consequence free and open source software development is mostly studied and discussed by academics within this context. This thesis demonstrates that however this is a logical and legitimate approach to studying such software development practices, it is merely one way of conceptually contextualising free and open source software development. This particular contextualisation overlooks the complexity, hybridity and diversity of practitioners, practices and perspectives in the field. Drawing on empirical data, collected during 15 weeks of ethnographic fieldwork, it is argued in this thesis that it is more productive to break with this singular conceptual contextualisation of free and open source software development and explore the variety of contextualisations as found in the field. It reconstructs how together these perspectives renew academic discourse on free and open source software development This will offer a new understanding of how the practices concerning free and open source software development are connected to larger discourses.