Free software licenses constrain how software can be used, while providing no limits or guidance on how it can be built. As a result, a wide variety of governance structures are used in free software projects, from "one person, one vote" democracy to "benevolent dictator for life," and beyond.
This presentation provides a survey of existing governance structures used by free software projects such as Python, Debian, and others. Together, we'll explore how governance decisions have affected these projects over time, using the Common Pool Resource framework developed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Elinor Ostrom.
Speakers: Shauna Gordon-McKeon