The "Doctor Who" Model of Open Source

Glyn Moody writes "Open source projects are generally fine when there's a long-term leader like Linus; but what happens when nobody is able or willing to run things for extended periods? Peter Murray-Rust explains how the open chemistry group known as the Blue Obelisk has evolved what he calls the 'Doctor Who Model of Open Source': 'You'll recall that every few years something fatal happens to the Doctor and you think he is going to die and there will never be another series. Then he regenerates. The new Doctor has a different personality, a different philosophy (though always on the side of good). It is never clear how long any Doctor will remain unregenerated or who will come after him. And this is a common theme in the Blue Obelisk.' Could other open source projects learn from this experience as long-term leaders start to move on?"

Comments

WTF?

[Gizzmonic]

Doctor Who? We're talking about a contrivance that was used to explain away actors leaving a show. Meanwhile, in reality, open source projects leave a lot of code that may or may not be well-documented. Changing project managers every few years strikes me as rather difficult, although I guess if you can maintain interest in the project throughout, it could still be a success. Still, it seems like a warning sign to me, kind of like when a movie has 5 screenwriters or 5 editors.

Re:WTF?

[Marillion]

Just as Doctor Who is bigger than any one actor who plays the role, many of the "Big Things" in life are always bigger than those who run them. Corporate Executives should do well to remember that.
This isn't the same thing as saying anyone can just replace anyone. Matt Smith has some large expectations to meet when Tennant turns over the TARDIS key.
Linux is a great example. Linus doesn't do as much day-to-day programming in the kernel - he hasn't for years. None the less, there are dozens of people who do. Linux will continue long after Linus stops working on it.
I think there is a great danger if there exists a Cult of Personality in an organisation. While I firmly believe that Apple can do well after Steve Jobs leaves, he has built a Cult of Personality that will immediately cripple whoever follows.

Re:WTF?

[Red Flayer]

I agree, Dr. Who is probably not the best analogy for the model they are describing.

Instead we should consider that the project leaders are like the drummers in the band, they set the rhythm and tempo at which the project moves.

Most bands have only one drummer through the life of the band, because the drummer's style defines the band so much. If that drummer leaves the band, or spontaneously combusts, the band often drifts into obscurity. This is much like many OS projects. There are exceptions, of course.

The most obvious exception in the world of bands is Spinal Tap. So I think we should call this the "Spinal Tap" model, rather than the "Dr. Who" model.

Plus, you get dancing dwarfs on miniature stonehenges, and versions that go up to eleven.

Re:WTF?

[theaceoffire]

"While I firmly believe that Apple can do well after Steve Jobs leaves, he has built a Cult of Personality that will immediately cripple whoever follows."

^_^ Ah, that's where your wrong. Steve Jobs plans to die battling an army of Microsoft servers for freedom and puppies... he will change the Cult of Personality into a Cult of Martyrism, led by his dying wish to crush evil and defend new ideas!

O.o and bam, they replace him with NO one, and every new Mac is "In memory of our brave, noble leader".

Re:WTF?

[ArsonSmith]

If you are reading this then you are part of the resistance.

And after 12 regenerations ... ?

[Burb]

After 12 deaths, you need hyper-advanced aliens from another planet to grant a new regeneration cycle? Does Davros take over? I'll explain later.

Re:And after 12 regenerations ... ?

[CarpetShark]

And that's the easy part. Try downloading a tar file from some crazy Dr. Who open source project and finding it's bigger inside than out... oh, wait...

Feudalism

[Bastard of Subhumani]

Feudalism with a herditary monarchy. Trouble is anybody who works on open source projects doesn't breed, so you'd have succession wars all the time.

No change there, then.

RBS, Linus, Guido Python, Larry Perl

[thehickcoder]

with characters such as RBS, Linus, Guido Python, Larry Perl, etc.

Um..... RMS, Linus Torvalds, Guido van Rossum, Larry Wall

The "Doctor Who" Model?

[Itninja]

You mean the model where something is only deemed entertaining because everything else is either soccer or BBC news? And after a decade or so people just stop caring and the the whole things becomes a kind of national joke? That model?

That's all well and good but what if you get a tit

[jollyreaper]

For example, that Eccelson chap was a good first pick. When he sharted off to go do other things, Tennant was a good replacement. But now that Tennant is ready to pass the baton, the new pick they have looks like a total tit with his flock of seagulls hair. We might be stuck with a Doctor firmly entrenched in the 80's with all that entails. Simply naff.

Personally, ...

[ikirudennis]

I find the "Dread Pirate Roberts" Model to be the most effective model for open source.

Re:where does microsoft play in all this

[Chrutil]

the daleks?, cybermen? somebody has to be the badguy in this show...

Well, if anyone is the daleks my pick would be Oracle.
Running around pointing and screaming "Exterminate" is totally Larry Ellson'ish.