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Open Source Growing At an Exponential Rate

Posted by Soulskill on from the gaining-ground dept.

sipmeister writes "Two computer scientists who work for enterprise software giant SAP have shown that open source is growing at an exponential rate. Not only is the code base growing exponentially, but also the number of viable projects. Researchers Amit Deshpande and Dirk Riehle analyzed the database of open source startup ohloh.net and looked at the last 16 years of growth in open source. They consistently got the best fit for the data using an exponential model. Relating this to open source market revenue, Desphande and Riehle conclude that open source is eating into closed source at a non-trivial pace."

10 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. I for one by setagllib · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one welcome our new open source overlords :)

    --
    Sam ty sig.
    1. Re:I for one by cptnapalm · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh, thank you! My, what a friendly bunch of abject servants you all are. I simply must tell all my fellow FOSS overlords all about how sweet you all have been in accepting the yoke placed around your necks by our imperious hands.

    2. Re:I for one by tsm_sf · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think it's hilarious that you took the time to come back and proofread your troll. That's craftsmanship.

      --
      Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
    3. Re:I for one by montyzooooma · · Score: 4, Funny

      Were your lips moving when you read it?

  2. And what exponent? by winmine · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seriously, don't get the cynical mathematicians on /. going about hyperbole like "exponential rates".

    Well, the exponent could be negative, did you think about that? Huh??

    1. Re:And what exponent? by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 2, Funny

      and I for one cannot wait for the O(n log n) fanboys to debunk all this

  3. This is terrible news by eln · · Score: 3, Funny

    At this rate, it's only a matter of time before Open Source achieves sentience and turns on its creators.

    1. Re:This is terrible news by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 2, Funny

      At this rate, it's only a matter of time before Open Source achieves sentience and turns on its creators.

      Knowing the slashdot crowd, it'll take more than a few curves to do that. Oh, wait...

  4. It's not negative. by jd · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's i.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  5. Re:Viral License? by tomandlu · · Score: 2, Funny

    Heh - having now read up on the LGPL, I'm feeling a bit silly. On the plus-side, yay me! I reinvented the wheel!