[OSGeo-Discuss] Does Open Source need a supervisory government body?

[Cameron Shorter]

Software quality is a difficult concept to measure so that it can be 
factored into purchasing decisions and budgets. How do you compare the 
quality of two different projects?

I assume the authors of the paper you are reviewing are drawing upon 
Quality processes like ISO 9001, or Quality Control and Quality 
Assurance processes defined in CMMI, or in Mil Std 498, or ISO 12207 or 
DO-178B.  (Mmm, I must get a life. Working for defense companies ensures 
you get to read very some boring documents).

Government purchaser's not only need quality software, but they need to 
to measure the quality of the software and determine whether it is fit 
for purpose.
What is the probability the software won't work, or won't work to spec?
What is the impact if the software crashes? Will someone be killed, or 
will a lot of money be lost?

The way large software vendors prove their software quality is they 
define software development processes (which includes testing), then 
follow the defined processes, then audit the company to ensure the 
processes are followed.
This is an effective, well tested way to verify quality - and you will 
find most established Open Source projects will follow do the same, to a 
greater or lesser degree.

So my recommendation for a government evaluating software is:

1. Specify the need for the software.
2. Specify the criticality of the software.
3. Based on the criticality, determine the level of quality required.
4. Based on quality requirement, determine the level of processes and 
testing required.
5. Verify the project in question has the required software development 
processes.
6. Potentially offer resources to improve project processes.

I could bore you with hours more on this subject, but better stop here.

PS. Bruce, are you allowed to tell us Australians what report you are 
responding to, and can I see a copy of it?

Bruce.Bannerman at dpi.vic.gov.au wrote:
>
> IMO:
>
> Thanks Ivan,
>
> Agreed.
>
> While government can certainly incubate, sponsor and contribute to 
> projects. My personal opinion is that they are better run by 'the 
> community'.
>
> If the project is good enough, it should get sufficient supporters and 
> hopefully be picked up by a 'central authority' like OSGeo.
>
>
> Bruce
>
>
> >
> > That sounds like removing the "F" from FOSS or should I say, that is a
> > bazaar inside a cathedral. :)
> >
> > Seriously now, IMHO, as an FOSS contributor and a commercial software
> > developer that uses FOSS, I believe that there is a complicated process
> > of getting to the point to embrace a FOSS initiative and that statement
> > does not help it at all. Where are the decisions made, in public
> > e-mail-lists or in a cabinet? What about election and cabinet change?
> >
> > I am not saying that a government agency can't be the incubator of a
> > *F*OSS, there are numerous successful example out there, but the
> > governance of the project matter a lot. "If you love your OSS project
> > set it free".
> >
>
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-- 
Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Systems Architect
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

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