Python: Characteristics identification of a free open source software ecosystem

Analysing a free open source software ecosystem can be beneficial and can help stakeholders in numerous ways. The analysis can help developers, investors, and contributors, to decide which software ecosystem to invest in and where to invest. Another reason for making an analysis is to assist ecosystem coordinators in governing their ecosystem. The paper provides an insight on the free open source software ecosystem of Python. It presents an analysis of the software ecosystem itself and the different characteristics it has. Based upon the conducted analysis with the available dataset, the research concludes that the free open source software ecosystem of Python contains three ecosystem roles that define its ecosystem. Next to that, it has grown exponentially from 31 active developers in 2005 to 5,212 December 2012. These results can help set up a strategy for the future of the Python ecosystem. At this point in time, it is necessary to make arrangements for the ongoing growth of the Python ecosystem. Failing to do so can lead to a growing number of unusable features, and eventually advance to an unhealthy ecosystem.