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An Inter-disciplinary Study on Open Source Software Development in Developing Countries A Case Study of Chinese Linux Yinhua Zhou Doctor of Philosophy The University of Edinburgh 2012 Declaration I hereby declare that this thesis has been composed by myself, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institutes of higher learning, except where due acknowledgment has been made in the text. Yinhua Zhou I Abstract This research provides a detailed account of Open Source Software (OSS) development in the context of developing countries (DCs) by exploring the specific case of Chinese indigenous Linux design and development. It builds an interdisciplinary, socio-technical, analytical framework from the perspective of science and technology studies (STS), in particular the social shaping of technology (SST), infrastructural studies and international technology transfer. It also covers the fields of economic analysis, policy studies and development studies. The research investigates the adaptation process of a unique OSS with infrastructural features – Linux in the context of China by conducting case studies on both embedded Linux and platform Linux products developed by two Chinese Linux providers. Drawing upon the concepts developed in the SST perspective and infrastructural studies, this research addresses both the dynamism and continuity of OSS. In order to avoid the shortcomings of existing social scientific study on OSS, we applied social and biography of artefacts (BoA) approaches to examine the evolution of Chinese Linux by mapping out the key actors, investigating the linkages between them, and probing deeply into the intricate interplays among these actors over time. A detailed longitudinal and contextual analysis has been undertaken through a qualitative historical case study of the evolution of both Chinese embedded Linux and platform Linux from 1998-2008. The empirical data reveals that the local adaptation and further innovation of Chinese Linux is a ‘generification’ process, i.e. a process of design and developing generic Linux solutions for diverse local users. Theoretically, the understanding of the socio-technical interfaces of the software (seeking, identifying, categorising local users/intermediaries, as well as collaborating with key players associated with the particular software) are central elements for software technology transfer and local technological capabilities building. The findings also throw the light on the crucial importance of government role in II providing incentives and institutional measures for Linux adaptation in China. In particular, it highlights the challenges concerning the socio-technical specificities of infrastructural software, like Linux OS (operating system) and the particular relevance to DCs as technology adapters. Finally, this study throws light on the policy and practice for China’s future Linux development, and the implications for other DCs. III Acknowledgements I would like to thank the people who have helped in the creation of this PhD thesis. There are many who should be mentioned, and as usual there is not enough room to mention them all. Therefore, to begin with I would like to thank all the people who are not named below but who have been very helpful in creating this thesis. In the first place, I would like to thank Dr. Xiaobai Shen and Dr. James Stewart for guiding me through the PhD process with tremendous support and encouragement. Special thanks are dedicated to Mr. Kenneth Wright for reviewing and improving my English writing. I also would like to thank the organisations and informants in China for their cooperation and contributions to my PhD research. Last but not least, I would like to thank all the members of my family for their constant love and both financial and moral support IV Abbreviations ASP Application Service Provider API Application Programming Interface BoA Biography of Artefacts BSD Berkeley Software Distribution BUAA Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics also known as Beihang University CAS Chinese Academy of Science CASTED Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development CCB China Construction Bank CCID China Centre for Information Industry Development CCIDVC China Centre for Information Industry Development Venture Capital CESI China Electronic Standardisation Institute CPC Communist Party of China CS2C China Standard Software Co. Ltd CS&S China National Software and Service Co. Ltd CSIS Centre for Strategic and International Studies DC Developing Country DCC Data Centre Consolidation DWDAS Dynamic Website Development and Administration System EDK Embedded Development Kit ERP Enterprise Resource Planning EU European Union FLOSSPOLS Free/Libre/Open Source Software: Policy Support FPS Frames per Second GNU "GNU's Not Unix GPL General Public License V GUI Graphic User Interface IC Integrated Circuit ICT Information and Communication Technology IDC International Data Corporation IDE Integrated Development Environment IPC Intellectual Property Centre ISCAS Institute of Software in Chinese Academy of Science IT Information Technology LUPA Leadership of Open Source University Promotion Alliance MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology MNE Multinational enterprise MS Microsoft Corporation NC Network Computer NCRE National Computer Rank Examination OA Office Application OS Operating System OSS Open Source Software PC Personal Computer Qualipso Quality Platform for Open Source Software R&D Research and Development SCOT Social Construction of Technology SDK Software Development Kit SETC State Economic and Trade Commission SLTI Social Learning in Technology Innovation SME Small and Medium Enterprise SSICT Social Shaping of Information and Communication Technology SST Social Shaping of Technology STS Science & Technology Studies VI VOD Video on Demand VII Figures and tables Figures Figure 1: Relationship between technology transfer and indigenous 47 technological capabilities Figure 2: The evolution of the Chinese indigenous Linux 62 Figure 3: Longitudinal data and contextual data 64 Figure 4: The biography of embedded Linux 210 Figure 5: The biography of platform Linux 213 Figure 6: Government measures for linking suppliers and users 236 Figure 7: Government measures to build Linux supply chain 241 Tables Table 1: Interviews from China’s software industry 67 Table 2: Interviews from user communities 68 Table 3: Interviews from policy researchers in government affiliated 69 institute Table 4: Interview content for platform Linux 70 Table 5: Interview content for embedded Linux 71 Table 6: Interview content for government policy 71 Table 7: Research questions and data source 73 Table 8: Chinese government policies and administrative measures 186 VIII Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................... 1 1.1 Focus and Scope ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Open Source Software and Linux ...................................................................... 3 1.3 Context – China in Transition ............................................................................ 6 1.4 Government Role in OS and Linux Development ............................................. 7 1.5 Research Questions.......................................................................................... 10 1.6 Structure of the Thesis ..................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW................................................... 13 2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Open Source Software (OSS) .......................................................................... 13 2.2.1 Ideology behind the open source movement......................................... 13 2.2.2 Actors’ strategies in and governance structure of the open source movement............................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3 The diffusion of OSS ............................................................................ 19 2.2.4 OSS license and corresponding business model ................................... 21 2.2.5 Government policy to OSS ................................................................... 24 2.2.6 OSS in developing countries................................................................