Usability in Open Source Software Development: An Interpretive Case Study

This paper analyzes usability in open source software (OSS) development. OSS development is a current phenomenon both in Information Systems (IS) research and practice. Also the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) community has started to acknowledge OSS development as an interesting object of study. The importance of usability is accepted within the both fields of IS and HCI. Usability of the OSS tends to be poor, but usability is becoming a relevant topic of research also in the OSS context, even though, to date, it has not been examined much. Therefore, an interpretive case study is carried out to examine how usability is understood and dealt with in an OSS project. The results show that different kinds of meanings have been attached to usability in the project, and some action has also been taken to ensure it in the development. However, clear targets for improvement can also be identified. Implications both for theory and practice are discussed.