Maintaining interoperability in open source software: A case study of the Apache PDFBox project

Butler, SimonHögskolan i Skövde,Institutionen för informationsteknologi,Forskningsmiljön Informationsteknologi,Software Systems Research Group (SSRG) (författare)

Maintaining interoperability in open source software : A case study of the Apache PDFBox project

CC BY 4.0
Software interoperability is commonly achieved through the implementation of standards for communication protocols or data representation formats. Standards documents are often complex, difficult to interpret, and may contain errors and inconsistencies, which can lead to differing interpretations and implementations that inhibit interoperability. Through a case study of two years of activity in the Apache PDFBox project we examine day-to-day decisions made concerning implementation of the PDF specifications and standards in a community open source software (OSS) project. Thematic analysis is used to identify semantic themes describing the context of observed decisions concerning interoperability. Fundamental decision types are identified including emulation of the behaviour of dominant implementations and the extent to which to implement the PDF standards. Many factors influencing the decisions are related to the sustainability of the project itself, while other influences result from decisions made by external actors, including the developers of dependencies of PDFBox. This article contributes a fine grained perspective of decision-making about software interoperability by contributors to a community OSS project. The study identifies how decisions made support the continuing technical relevance of the software, and factors that motivate and constrain project activity.

NATURVETENSKAP Data- och informationsvetenskap Programvaruteknik hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Computer and Information Sciences Software Engineering hsv//eng
SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap Systemvetenskap, informationssystem och informatik med samhällsvetenskaplig inriktning hsv//swe
SOCIAL SCIENCES Media and Communications Information Systems, Social aspects hsv//eng
Community open source software
Portable document format
Software implementation
Software interoperability
Standards
Decision making
Interoperability
Semantics
Data representations
Fine grained
Open source software projects
Portable document formats
Project activities
Thematic analysis
Open source software
Software Systems Research Group (SSRG)
Software Systems Research Group (SSRG)

Gamalielsson, JonasHögskolan i Skövde,Institutionen för informationsteknologi,Forskningsmiljön Informationsteknologi,Software Systems Research Group (SSRG)(Swepub:his)gamj (författare)
Lundell, BjörnHögskolan i Skövde,Institutionen för informationsteknologi,Forskningsmiljön Informationsteknologi,Software Systems Research Group (SSRG)(Swepub:his)lunb (författare)
Brax, ChristofferCombitech AB, Linköping, Sweden(Swepub:his)brac (författare)
Mattsson, AndersHusqvarna AB, Huskvarna, Sweden (författare)
Gustavsson, TomasPrimeKey Solutions AB, Stockholm, Sweden (författare)
Feist, JonasRedBridge AB, Stockholm, Sweden (författare)
Lönroth, ErikScania IT AB, Södertälje, Sweden (författare)
Högskolan i SkövdeInstitutionen för informationsteknologi (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Butler, Simon; Gamalielsson, Jo ...; Lundell, Björn; Brax, Christoffe ...; Mattsson, Anders; Gustavsson, Toma ...; visa fler...; Feist, Jonas; Lönroth, Erik; visa färre...

Om ämnet

NATURVETENSKAP: NATURVETENSKAP; och Data och informa ...; och Programvarutekni ...

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP: SAMHÄLLSVETENSKA ...; och Medie och kommun ...; och Systemvetenskap ...

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