Usually, we speak about mainstream vs. heterodoxy (or "minority") when we discuss about competing theoretical approaches in Research. Linux is not a theoretical approach but a technological paradigm. As a technological paradigm, Linux is becoming a big player.
Data about Linux and, in general, open source projects can be found on www.netcraft.com
and www.sourceforge.net
These data highlight the increasing weigh of Linux and open source in the market for SW.
Communities efforts do not only produce Open Source Software but also Open Content information assemblages and databases. In this cases, volunteers do not contribute pieces of code but documents, data etc. Think about the Open Directory Project or Wikipedia. Is it possible that no one has got his own opinion about the private (commercial) use of projects like these? The point to make is not an indeological one: Commercial use of "Open Source" data and information goes against volunteer developers system of value. The point is to assess whether the supposed "exploited" information can be subtracted from the "Open Domain" for good and its original quality level dramatically decreased (think about Google mixing genuine and paid search results). So, do the "popularity and diffusion advantages" due to Commercial-Private use of Open Source exceed the foregoing pitfalls (smaller public domain - lower quality of information conservancies)? I think thee is no general answer, the assessment should be carried on case by case.
The Success of an Open Source engine would be of crucial importance, especially after the latest development in the market: Yahoo! bought Overture and Google started working in the field of paid searches. The risk of the current trend is to produce a undistinguishible mixture of paid and free search that does not work anymore as a reliable catalogue or classification for a growing messy Web. The point is strengthened by the Web-directories decline (Yahoo! loosing importance and the small success of the Open Directory Project, exploited but not popular among users). If a new open source search engine will flourish, it is important to defend its integrity from its born. This can be achieved perhaps with copyleft protection.
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Usually, we speak about mainstream vs. heterodoxy (or "minority") when we discuss about competing theoretical approaches in Research. Linux is not a theoretical approach but a technological paradigm. As a technological paradigm, Linux is becoming a big player. Data about Linux and, in general, open source projects can be found on www.netcraft.com and www.sourceforge.net These data highlight the increasing weigh of Linux and open source in the market for SW.
Communities efforts do not only produce Open Source Software but also Open Content information assemblages and databases. In this cases, volunteers do not contribute pieces of code but documents, data etc. Think about the Open Directory Project or Wikipedia. Is it possible that no one has got his own opinion about the private (commercial) use of projects like these? The point to make is not an indeological one: Commercial use of "Open Source" data and information goes against volunteer developers system of value. The point is to assess whether the supposed "exploited" information can be subtracted from the "Open Domain" for good and its original quality level dramatically decreased (think about Google mixing genuine and paid search results). So, do the "popularity and diffusion advantages" due to Commercial-Private use of Open Source exceed the foregoing pitfalls (smaller public domain - lower quality of information conservancies)? I think thee is no general answer, the assessment should be carried on case by case.
The Success of an Open Source engine would be of crucial importance, especially after the latest development in the market: Yahoo! bought Overture and Google started working in the field of paid searches. The risk of the current trend is to produce a undistinguishible mixture of paid and free search that does not work anymore as a reliable catalogue or classification for a growing messy Web. The point is strengthened by the Web-directories decline (Yahoo! loosing importance and the small success of the Open Directory Project, exploited but not popular among users). If a new open source search engine will flourish, it is important to defend its integrity from its born. This can be achieved perhaps with copyleft protection.