OS Project Comparison Activity

Title	OS Project Comparison Activity
Overview	In this activity, students compare and contrast three different open source projects (Android, Ushahidi, Red Hat). Students will gain a basic understanding of why these exist as open source projects, as well as the operating models and licensing used by each. Students will be provided with directed readings and will answer specific questions to develop the comparisons.
Prerequisite Knowledge	None.
Learning Objectives	Learn the purpose of an open source project Learn the different operational models and licenses under which projects are developed Learn the reason a specific project is created Learn how to contribute to an open source project

Background:

While this activity is tailored to compare and contrast three specific projects, any open source project can be used if there is a point of comparison.

Directions:

Given the following material for three different open source projects:

1. Android Development Platform
   • https://source.android.com/source/index.html
   • http://source.android.com/source/faqs.html
2. Ushahidi
   • http://www.ushahidi.com/mission/
   • http://www.ushahidi.com/product/ushahidi/
3. RedHat
   • https://youtu.be/vhYMRtqvMg8
   • http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/02/how-red-hat-killed-its-core-productand-became-a-billion-dollar-business/

For each project answer the following questions:

1. What is the project about?
2. Why is the project open source?
3. What kind of open project is it? Describe the operating model and the license(s) used.
4. In what ways can one contribute to the project? Are there any limitations?

Deliverable:

Submit a report with your answers. Your responses for each project should be a page to a page and half long.

Assessment:

Criteria	Partial Credit	Complete Credit
Understand:
The purpose of the project	Answer is not clear, some grammatical or logical errors. Student does not comprehensively understand the purpose of a project	Answer is clear, uses correct language, indicates the purpose of each project, including what need the project fulfills
Why the project is open source	Answer is not clear, some grammatical or logical errors or not enough supporting arguments	Answer is clear, uses correct language and provides supporting arguments
The different operating models and licenses using for each project	Answer is not clear, some grammatical or logical errors or partially answers the question	Answer is clear, uses correct language and correctly answers the question
How to contribute to the project	Answer is not clear, some grammatical or logical errors or partially answer the question	Answer is clear, uses correct language and correctly answers the question

Comments:

The instructor should have a basic understanding of open source models and licensing.

Suggestions for the Open Source Project:

Suggestions for an open source community member who is working in conjunction with the instructor.

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