Exercises and Discussion Topics

  1. Examine which software categories are over or underepresented in open source software repositories. Discuss why this might be the case.
  2. What criteria will you use for determining the project to contribute?
  3. Describe the business model behind a packaging company. Is a similar business model used in another, non-software, area? Why (not)?
  4. Consider adopting some of the programs we described to improve your productivity.
  5. Learn a scripting language, like Ruby, Python, or Perl.
  6. Compile a Swiss-army-knife CD with all the open source software you would want to have with you on a desert island.