Hi Angela, I would check out Two Bits: The Cultural Significance of Free Software by Chris Kelty, which is probably the most detailed treatment of Free Software to date. The history chapters are phenomenal and really provide a new way of looking at the conditions that helped give rise to F/OSS. And even better, you can do so immediately as the book can be viewed and downloaded for free here: http://twobits.net/ (it is under a CC license) and of course purchased as well (and the book can be modulated as well!) Similarly, David Berry has also provided one of the richest accounts (though focused more on political questions) in his new book: http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=211422 I am also teaching a course on hackers this semester and there are a few pieces on F/OSS on the syllabus: http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/uploads/002/321/Coleman-Hackers-ILA-Fall... Though I have not had a chance to read it (but soon will), Tim Jordan raises F/OSS in relationship to hacking in his new book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hacking-Digital-Media-Technological-Determinism/dp/0...). And it is also the relationship between hacking and F/OSS that I address in this article, co-written with Alex Golub http://ant.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/8/3/255). All best, Gabriella
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Message: 2 Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 16:33:59 +0200 From: "Sharon Haleva Amir" <sharon@trebcon.com> Subject: Re: [Air-L] Open source literature To: <air-l@listserv.aoir.org> Message-ID: <002701c93c2e$e28be170$0100000a@SHAmir> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1250"
Hi Angela, you may want to get in touch with Dr. Gabriella Coleman from NYU. Lately she worked on a book dealing with hackers as well as the free and open source software. As an anthropologist she has an interest in the open source programmers' community, their motives and aims. This is her webpage - http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/faculty_bios/view/Gabriella_Coleman Good luck, Sharon
Best Wishes, Sharon Haleva Amir, HCLT Fellow )PhD Candidate) Faculty of Law, University of Haifa, ISRAEL.
-----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Angela Adkins Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 12:48 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: [Air-L] Open source literature
Hello all,
I have been asked for literature suggestions by a colleague with a budding interest in research on open source, particularly in how the community of developers/contributors maintains a collaborative environment and in resistance to open source. I would like to help him but alas, I am not overly familiar with specific research on that topic. But I am always impressed at the helpfulness and willingness to share on this list, so I thought this would be a good place to ask. Does anyone have suggestions for good sources to get started? I would gladly pass them along--anything would be much appreciated
Thank you!
-- _______________________________________________ Gabriella Coleman, Assistant Professor Department of Media, Culture, & Communication New York University 239 Greene St, 7th floor NY NY 10003 http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/mcc/