Three essays on open source software communities

Abstract

Open source software (OSS) transcends traditional software development models, emphasizing open collaboration, transparency, and collective problem-solving. In the contemporary technological landscape, OSS communities hold unparalleled significance as they stand at the forefront of developing critical software systems with broad applications across industries. OSS projects and communities not only contribute to the development of reliable software but also serve as crucial entities in evolving societal needs. As OSS continues to play an integral role in shaping various aspects of our lives, understanding OSS communities becomes essential for ensuring their continued effectiveness, innovation, and contribution to the ever-evolving technological landscape. The thesis presents a comprehensive exploration of OSS communities through three essays, shedding light on the multifaceted dynamics within these collaborative ecosystems. The first essay examines the impacts of lockdown on OSS contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It discovers that developers in the 2021 Xi’an lockdown increased OSS contributions by 9.0%, while those in the 2020 Wuhan lockdown reduced their contributions by 10.5%. The second essay shows that external contributions to firm-hosted OSS bolster firms’ financial performance. Moreover, this beneficial effect is strengthened when firms and their external contributors have previously engaged in more distinct OSS projects, or when there is increased comment activity within the firm-hosted OSS projects. The last essay reveals a positive impact of sponsoring other developers on the popularity of the sponsor’s OSS projects. Moreover, individuals with shorter tenure and those who do not publicly disclose affiliations experience a greater increase in project popularity following their sponsorship. Collectively, this thesis enriches our understanding of OSS communities, providing insights into their adaptive capacity during disruptions, the strategic leverage of external contributions for financial performance, and the dynamics of peer-to-peer sponsorship. These contributions have far-reaching implications for individuals, organizations, and policymakers navigating the evolving landscape of open source collaboration in the digital age.