Some Observations on Bug Fixing Process and Defect Density of Open Source Software
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Abstract
With the success of open source software, software development is now categorized by two development methodologies. First is the traditional closed source or proprietary software development where software development is carried out in a discipline environment and in systematic manner and the other one is open source development where no definite development methodology exists. Opponents of open source software argued that open source software is not developed by following the software engineering principles like project planning, analysis, system level designing, testing etc., causes more defects compare to proprietary software. Similarly it is also argued that, since there is no post release appropriate technical/customer support as in the case of proprietary software bug fixing is poor in the open source software. On contrary OSS proponent believes that due to active involvement of internet user in online forums of OSS projects, identification and fixing of bugs is much faster. This paper analyzes the arguments made by both the communities and compares the defect density of open source software vs. proprietary software on the basis of available data and also analyzes the bug reporting and fixing process of open source software. Results of various surveys and analysis results on bug count, defect density of OSS by various researchers/agencies are also incorporated in defect density analysis. Various views of researchers on the bug fixing process of OSS are studied and analyzed and a theoretical study is made to examine the defect density and bug fixing process of Open Source Software.
Keywords: Open Source Software (OSS), Proprietary Software, Bug Fixing, Bug Repository, Bug Tracking, Software Defect Density
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