//How does open source work?

//How is open source different from commercial production?

The users on Wikipedia define opensource as: "a development methodology, which offers practical accessibility to a product's source (goods and knowledge). Some consider open source as one of various possible design approaches, while others consider it a critical strategic element of their operations."

Mozilla Firefox is a free open source internet browser, it is being developed by both the users and the company. The company relies on donations and user contribution to continue updating and bringing out new software. I have been a Firefox convert for some years now - and whilst at first skeptical, I now never pass up the opporitunity to put a good word in for the FireFox browser.

The Mozilla web page described the initiative; "Mozilla is a global community, a public benefit organization and a technology for developers and users alike. We're motivated by a mission to promote openness and opportunity on the Internet, rather than business concerns, like profits or the price of stock. Yet Mozilla products still compete in a proprietary market, advancing technology in a revolutionary new way. Mozilla's Firefox Web browser has over 150 million users and is created by an international movement of thousands."

Mozilla does not rely on advertising or other major expenses to put its product out into the public, word of mouth on the internet is a powerful marketing tool and they use it to its fullest. However recently Microsoft has been criticising the Netscape software FireFox is based on, casting doubt and uncertainty as to win back Internet Explorer users (Internet Explorer being the 'anti chi' of Firefox). Bruns (2008) states "Whatever the current balance, however, the relationship between heterarchical communities of produsers and corporate hierarchies of producers is likely to remain fraught unless both sides begin to understand very clearly what advantages the other has to offer."

References:

Bruns, A. (2008) "Wikipedia: Representations of Knowledge." Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life and Beyond: From Production to Produsage, ch. 5.

www.Mozilla.org 'Home of the Mozilla Project' 2008