Towards an Openness Rating System for Open Source Software Wolfgang Bein Clinton Jeffery Center for the Advanced Study of Algorithms Department of Computer Science School of Computer Science University of Idaho University of Nevada Moscow, ID 83844-1010 Las Vegas, NV 89154 jeff
[email protected] [email protected] Abstract the original Tur´an proof, as well as four alternative proofs. The theorem roughly says that if a graph has Many open source software projects are not very very many edges then there necessarily have to exist open to third party developers. The point of open large cliques in the graph. Knowing this is useful in source is to enable anyone to fix bugs or add desired the reliability analysis of communication networks, for capabilities without holding them hostage to the origi- example. nal developers. This principle is important because an If mathematics followed the practices of proprietary open source project’s developers may be unresponsive software then anyone interested in the aforementioned or unable to meet third party needs, even if funding theorem would be able to see the statement of the the- support for requested improvements is offered. orem only by paying a fee (say, by purchasing this This paper presents a simple rating system for eval- article from a publishing house), but the inner work- uating the openness of software distributions. The rat- ings of Tur´an’s proof would not be accessible for any ing system considers factors such as platform portabil- price. Worse, anyone publishing any of the alterna- ity, documentation, licensing, and contribution policy.