Legal and Socioeconomic Impacts
Software exists within a legal and social context. Licences govern how software can be used, modified, and distributed. Development models shape how software is created and maintained. Foundation-driven and profit-driven development produce different outcomes for communities and users.
Software Licences
Software licences define the terms under which software may be used, modified, and distributed. Understanding licence types is essential for compliance, contribution, and project selection.
See Article - FOSS and other software licences for an overview of FOSS and proprietary licences.
Open vs Corporate Development
The Cathedral and the Bazaar metaphor contrasts two development models:
- Cathedral: Centralised, planned development with releases at discrete milestones.
- Bazaar: Decentralised, iterative development with frequent releases and community contributions.
See Article - Open vs corporate software development (The Cathedral and the Bazaar) for a discussion of these models.
Foundation vs Profit-Driven Development
Software developed by foundations (Apache, Linux, Mozilla) often prioritises community benefit, transparency, and long-term sustainability. Profit-driven development may prioritise shareholder value, competitive advantage, and revenue.
See Article - Implication of Foundation vs Profit oriented company software development for more on the implications of different development funding models.