Factors affecting tool adoption in OSS
THIS IS ALL WORK IN PROGRESS AND HIGHLY IN FLUX
In this list, I attempt to bring together all factors which could have any influence on success or failure of a tool, however small; my research is about finding out which ones make more of a difference and which ones are less relevant.
If you feel like adding your thoughts to a factor, please feel free. Especially helpful are examples of projects in which a given factor has had a positive impact, as well as those where a lack is having a negative impact.
It would help if you'd prefix your comments with your name so that I know how to contact you if I have questions and can give appropriate credit.
Also see ["madduck/adoptions"] for a list of tools which have or have not been adopted by developers of the Debian project. Feel free to extend/edit this list as well.
Factors relating to the use of a tool
- [wiki:/bottom-up-vs-top-down Bottom-up vs. top-down approach to the sd sdv
- sdv sd problem] ac ad c asc as c as c a sc as c a sc as c as c as c as c asc as c
- bla blka adscpkasdv sadvasdvk sdvk 'lasd v; ka;lsd v;l asdv n;lasdv adsc adv adsc: l asdv;f - advadv adscpkasdv sadvasdvk sdvk 'lasd v; ka;lsd v;l asdv n;lasdv l asdv;
l asdvs
Obsolete
I use the following categories for factors (please extend as you see fit):
- [wiki:/usability Usability]: how usable is the tool? Is it well-documented?
- Can it be used in more than one way? Does it have multiple interfaces?
- [wiki:/maintenance Maintenance status]: how well is the tool maintained?
- Does it distinguish between stable and unstable releases? Are unstable releases usable?
- [wiki:/implementation Implementation] (developer aspects): how is a tool
- implemented? This is about code, language, style of development, modularity, accessibility to users interested in touching the code, etc.
- [wiki:/direction Direction]: does the project follow a defined direction?
- Is there a manifesto? What happens with new ideas which may deviate a bit from a given direction?