“Technology is neither an enabler nor a facilitator of civil society in its own right. Nor is it a decider of its own ethical or non-ethical use. The mechanism that ultimately decides the ideology behind any given technology are the people and institutions applying it, regardless of the intent defined its original development.”
(Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives, June 2007)

Because open source methodology and ideology have become so intertwined in the nonprofit question, “Does Open Source equal open Society?” it is appropriate to ask if the right debate is taking place around it, particularly in the context of nonprofit implementations of this technology.

This article is a cited, updated and peer reviewed version of earlier writings exploring the dimensions that ideology and technology cohabit on three distinct levels:

• Development ideology: How is the technology developed?
• Selection ideology: Why is the technology chosen?
• Ideology of use: What is the technology ultimately used for?

The handbook of Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives is now considered to be the most comprehensive reference source on all topics related to the field of OSS. We are pleased to report that this project has been a true international collaboration of 104 researchers who have contributed 54 articles highlighting concepts, issues, and future challenges facing this discipline.

In addition, this publication offers more than 390 technical and managerial terms with full definitions. These articles and terms have been supported by more than 1,500 references providing additional sources of information. Please consider recommending this publication to your reference librarian for library acquisition.

– Jonathan Peizer –