A Framework for Understanding the Open Source Revolution1

The open source revolution is having a dramatic impact on the computer industry. Web services based on open source technologies play a major role in the Internet. The Linux® operating system has achieved the dominant position within the embedded controller segment of the telecommunication industry. Recently, open source applications have passed Mac applications in penetration into the PC market. Why is this happening? Should we be surprised? Is this a major, self-sustaining phenomenon? This chapter proposes a framework for understanding the open source revolution by identifying a number of market forces driving the revolution and placing these forces within historical perspective. From the birth of open source–the socialism of the GNU Manifesto–to the dominance of current Web services, we show that the open source revolution is a natural response, and part of a continuing effort by users to increase their returns from technology by controlling the AbSTRACT