Two Bits
The Cultural Significance of Free Software
1st Edition
Published on 9. June 2008
400 pages
978-0-8223-8900-2 (ISBN)
Description
Ethnographic study of the programmers, engineers, and hackers who have shaped the internet since the 1970s and the battles that have been waged amongst them over the development of open source software.
More details
Other editions
Persons
Christopher M. Kelty is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Rice University.
Content
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
Part I. The Internet
1. Geeks and Recursive Publics 27
2. Protestant Reformers, Polymaths, Transhumanists 64
Part II. Free Software
3. The Movement 97
4. Sharing Source Code 118
5. Conceiving Open Systems 143
6. Writing Copyright Licenses 179
7. Coordinating Collaborations 210
Part III. Modulations
8. "If We Succeed, We Will Disappear" 243
9. Reuse, Modification, and the Nonexistence of Norms 269
Conclusion: The Cultural Consequences of Free Software 301
Notes 311
Bibliography 349
Index 367
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
Part I. The Internet
1. Geeks and Recursive Publics 27
2. Protestant Reformers, Polymaths, Transhumanists 64
Part II. Free Software
3. The Movement 97
4. Sharing Source Code 118
5. Conceiving Open Systems 143
6. Writing Copyright Licenses 179
7. Coordinating Collaborations 210
Part III. Modulations
8. "If We Succeed, We Will Disappear" 243
9. Reuse, Modification, and the Nonexistence of Norms 269
Conclusion: The Cultural Consequences of Free Software 301
Notes 311
Bibliography 349
Index 367
