Title :
Users of Open Source Software - How Do They Get Help?
Author :
Singh, V. ; Twidale, M.B. ; Nichols, D.M.
Author_Institution :
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Abstract :
A study was conducted across multiple open source software online technical help communities. This paper presents the types of discussions that occur, the types of questions asked and the type of responses that are given. The implications for socio-technical design are considered, exploring how help requests and discussions can be used to improve future help-giving, documentation and interface and functionality redesign.
Keywords :
groupware; project management; public domain software; software management; Web sites; open source software; socio-technical design; Data analysis; Discussion forums; Documentation; Fellows; Linux; Open source software; Problem-solving; Programming profession; Time factors; Usability;
Conference_Titel :
System Sciences, 2009. HICSS '09. 42nd Hawaii International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Big Island, HI
Print_ISBN :
978-0-7695-3450-3
DOI :
10.1109/HICSS.2009.489
