Open source and commercial open source

Business models

Giving the code away and charging for something adjacent. Unusually well documented, largely by participants.

7 books

Start here

  1. Just for FunLinus Torvalds, David Diamond, 2001
  2. The Cathedral and the BazaarEric S. Raymond, 1999
  3. Working in PublicNadia Eghbal, 2020

Books 7

The Cathedral and the Bazaar
T1 The Cathedral and the Bazaar
Eric S. Raymond · 1999 · The essay collection that made the commercial case for open development.
Open Library
Ryan HolidayPaul Graham
Just for Fun
T2 Just for Fun
Linus Torvalds, David Diamond · 2001 · Torvalds on why he gave the kernel away, and what that created.
Open Library
Rebel Code
T2 Rebel Code
Glyn Moody · 2001 · The reporting history of Linux and the businesses built around it.
Open Library
The Success of Open Source
T2 The Success of Open Source
Steven Weber · 2004 · Political economy of production without conventional property.
Open Library
Working in Public
T2 Working in Public
Nadia Eghbal · 2020 · Maintainer economics: who actually pays for open source, and how.
Open Library
Balaji S. SrinivasanBalaji SrinivasanDelian Asparouhov
Free as in Freedom
T3 Free as in Freedom
Sam Williams · 2002 · Stallman, the GPL, and the licence that shapes commercial open source.
Open Library
Producing Open Source Software
T3 Producing Open Source Software
Karl Fogel · 2005 · The operational manual for running a project and its sponsors.
Open Library