Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Measuring the Size of a Developer's Community?

Posted by Cliff on from the who-codes-on-what dept.

Travelr9 asks: "I am engaged in a project where upper management is deciding whether to use Linux or Palm OS on a new device. Leaving aside the technical merits of each [in the context of this decision, either could work well] a key question is the size of the developer communities (for both OS and applications) of Linux vs. Palm. I have searched for info on this topic, and have come up blank aside from vague assertions. Is anyone capturing real numbers and stats? This also brings up an interesting conceptual question -- how do you measure the size, quality, impact, etc., of a developer community? Number of bodies isn't enough. Number of apps? Number of lines of code? Frequency of major releases in core application or platform categories? Can you measure a concept like 'quality of developer community' usefully?"

4 of 19 comments (clear)

  1. I have used PalmOS devices since the Pilot 1000 by Tim_F · · Score: 0, Troll

    And Palm has always had the largest and most dedicated development communtiy. So in this case I would go with them hands down. PalmOS also has a Graphical User Interface. I (and many others that I know) would much rather use a Graphical User Interface over the Command Line Interface of Linux. Also, PalmOS will run on devices with as little as 512k of ram, Linux would probably be rather sluggish on those devices.

  2. -1 Troll/Flamebait on the MQR standard by MarkusQ · · Score: 1, Troll

    I wasn't sure until I read some of your other posts. You seem to be rather good at the "I might not be pulling your chain..." trolls.

    I suppose everyone has to have a hobby.

    -- MarkusQ

    P.S. Have you considered stamp collecting as a less anoying alternative?

    1. Re:-1 Troll/Flamebait on the MQR standard by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1, Troll

      P.S. Have you considered stamp collecting as a less anoying alternative?

      Speak for yourself, man. Philately fucking pisses me off.

      Twirlip (because too much karma is boring)

      --

      I write in my journal
  3. typo by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1, Troll

    How come nobody else has pointed out the glaring typo in the headline of this article? Cliff wrote "community" when he obviously meant "penis."

    Twirlip (because too much karma is boring)

    --

    I write in my journal