Workshop on Evaluation Frameworks for Open Source Software (EFOSS)Background
Open source software is transforming the software industry, presenting new mechanisms for software delivery and new business models for software companies. However, many potential users of open source software, particularly in industry, are used to acquiring software from established commercial vendors and have not established programs and policies for acquiring open source software (other than Linux), even when that software is supported by commercial vendors.
Potential users of open source software often find it difficult to determine whether it meets their needs, in terms of functionality, quality, technical assistance, documentation, and other aspects that determine its suitability for the intended use. Evaluation is a key aspect of the acquisition process, so a standard and widely-accepted evaluation framework is needed before companies will adopt and use open source software on a widespread scale.
The Business Readiness Rating™ (BRR) has been introduced to serve the need for such a framework, supporting the quantitative evaluation of open source software. Key objectives for the BRR include:
- to assist IT managers and decision makers in determining the suitability of specific open source software for deployment in a commercial setting
- to assist open source developers in understanding the factors used by these IT managers
The BRR framework identifies seven categories that are frequently used in evaluating open source software, including functionality, software quality, service and support, documentation, development process, community, and licensing issues. These factors are used in the Data Collection and Processing phase of the overall assessment of the software.
