Free/libre open source software contributors: one-time contributors, gender, and governance

Simple item page
dc.contributorVrbsky, Susan V.
dc.contributorCrawford, Chris S.
dc.contributorMusaev, Aibek
dc.contributorSteinmacher, Igor
dc.contributor.advisorCarver, Jeffrey C.
dc.contributor.authorLee, Amanda S.
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2019-08-01T14:23:44Z
dc.date.available2019-08-01T14:23:44Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractFree/Libre Open Source Software projects are freely available on the internet for anyone to contribute to. However, fringe populations such as females, newcomers, and others struggle to interact with the projects. They face barriers and social pressures that prevent them from joining, or push them out before they can make meaningful contributions. In this dissertation, we address the issue of fringe populations in FLOSS projects by investigating two fringe populations, One-Time Contributors and female contributors. In addition, we examine project governance to determine to what extent it helps or hinders these contributors. We used surveys, interviews, and data mining techniques to gather information about these populations and factors. OTCs and females both face stringent barriers to contributing to FLOSS projects. Project governance is relatively ambivalent towards fringe populations, but does not offer them the support they need. To retain more fringe populations and encourage them to join FLOSS projects, project governance should take a strongly pro-inclusivity stance and focus on lowering the barriers they face.en_US
dc.format.extent178 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0003273
dc.identifier.otherLee_alatus_0004D_13813
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/6086
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectComputer science
dc.titleFree/libre open source software contributors: one-time contributors, gender, and governanceen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Computer Science
etdms.degree.disciplineComputer Science
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.leveldoctoral
etdms.degree.namePh.D.

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
file_1.pdf
Size:
2.23 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Theses and Dissertations
Theses and Dissertations - Department of Computer Science