Social-technical network effects in open source software communities: understanding the impacts of dependency networks on project success

Abstract

Purpose

To better understand the success of an open source software (OSS) project, this study aims to examine the role of social dependency networks (i.e. social and technical dependencies) in online communities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on dependencies using three network metrics – degree centrality, betweenness centrality and closeness centrality – in developer and module networks. A longitudinal analysis from the projects hosted at Sourceforge.net is conducted to examine the effects of social and technical networks on the success of OSS projects. To address our research questions, we have constructed research models to investigate the social network effects in developer networks, the technical network effects in module networks, and the social-technical network effects in both types of networks.

Findings

The results reveal nonlinear relationships between degree centrality in both social and technical networks and OSS success, highlighting the importance of a moderate level of degree centrality in team structure and software architecture. Meanwhile, a moderate level of betweenness centrality and a lower level of closeness centrality between developers lead to a higher chance of OSS project success.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to consider the network metrics in both module networks of the technical sub-system and developer networks of the social sub-system to better understand their influences on project success.

Citation

Wu, J., Huang, X. and Wang, B. (2023), "Social-technical network effects in open source software communities: understanding the impacts of dependency networks on project success", Information Technology & People, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 895-915. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-09-2021-0684