Development Methodology - Faster

• Components of system released (semi) independently

  • No centralized control even possible, so no one holds up a release unless there is a dependency
  • Self selection of alpha and beta testers

• Community has mastered "release continuously"

  • Most provide CVS source pools & all provide peer review
  • or "Think of me as CVS with brains" - L. Torvalds
  • Not all OSS projects run this way - but the ones making fastest progress all run this way!
  • Aided by RPM package dependency management tools

• Software is made available as soon as it is useful

  • Attract contributors
  • Get feedback from real users and on design and modularity much sooner: this enables more contributors & useful functionality