Hackers in the Bazaar
Tue, Mar 31
Today's lecture starts the discussion of the burgeoning free and open source software movement in the 1990s and early 2000s. We'll look at the philosophies on software development and commerce that were developed in parallel with the more permissive licenses that were attached to open source software. We'll also look the different open source operating system projects that hackers were fixated on contributing to in the 1990s. We have two learning goals for today. By the end of our lecture class, you will:
- Gain an understanding of how a hacker-centered movement that was initially radically anti-establishment gradually transformed the practice of creating commercial software.
- Appreciate the different historical progressions of open source operating systems, with some moving back to the realm of commercial software, and others retaining their radical characteristics.
The digital artifact for today is the Linux Operating System.
The slides for today's lecture are available here.
Read This:
Today's reading is Chapter Two of Gabriella Coleman's Book Coding Freedom titled A Tale of Two Legal Regimes.
Do This:
Final Project Deliverable
Here are the instructions for the final group project deliverable.
This group assignment is due on 5/5 at 5pm.
Film Reflection 01
See the instructions posted on the assignment's page.
This writing reflection is due on 4/21 at 5pm.
Writing Reflection 04
See the instructions posted on the assignment's page.
This writing reflection is due on 4/7 at 5pm.
Joe Grand Hardware Hacking Workshop and Guest Lecture
Famed hardware hacker Joe Grand will be running a workshop sessions for the class on Wednesday, 4/8 in Stinson-Remick 205 from 6:00 - 9:00pm. We will be building USB keyboard emulator implants. 🍕 will be provided. This counts toward class participation. (You will have a ton of fun… trust us!)