A Social Network Approach to Free/Open Source Software Simulation

Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) development is a complex process that is just beginning to be understood. The actual development process is frequently characterized as disparate volunteer developers collaborating to make a piece of software. The developers of F/OSS, like all software, spend a significant portion of their time in social communications to foster collaboration. We have analyzed several methods of communication; a social networking site, project mailing lists, and developer weblogs; to gain an understanding of the social network structure behind F/OSS projects. This social network data was used to create a model of F/OSS development that allows for multiple projects, users, and developers with varying goals and socialization methods. Using this model we have been able to replicate some of the known phenomena observed in F/OSS and provide a first step in the creation of a robust model of F/OSS.