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Systematic Literature Review of Commercial Participation in Open Source Software

Xuetao Li, Yuxia Zhang, Cailean Osborne, Minghui Zhou, Zhi Jin, Hui Liu

TL;DR

This paper addresses the question of why for-profit firms participate in open source software (OSS), how they participate, and what impact this has on OSS ecosystems. It follows a systematic literature review protocol to collect and synthesize 92 papers across 51 venues, focusing on three dimensions: motivations (economic, technological, social), participation models (contribution and collaboration), and impacts on companies, developers, and OSS projects. The study identifies concrete motivation categories, catalogues varied engagement patterns, and analyzes both positive and negative effects, providing a structured view of the OSS 2.0 landscape. By outlining research opportunities and limitations, the paper offers guidance for researchers and practitioners on navigating commercial participation in OSS to support sustainable, open, and innovative software ecosystems.

Abstract

Open source software (OSS) has been playing a fundamental role in not only information technology but also our social lives. Attracted by various advantages of OSS, increasing commercial companies take extensive participation in open source development and have had a broad impact. This paper provides a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) of existing research on company participation in OSS. We collected 92 papers and organized them based on their research topics, which cover three main directions, i.e., participation motivation, contribution model, and impact on OSS development. We found the explored motivations of companies are mainly from economic, technological, and social aspects. Existing studies categorize companies' contribution models in OSS projects mainly through their objectives and how they shape OSS communities. Researchers also explored how commercial participation affects OSS development. We conclude with research challenges and promising research directions on commercial participation in OSS. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of commercial participation in OSS development.

Systematic Literature Review of Commercial Participation in Open Source Software

TL;DR

This paper addresses the question of why for-profit firms participate in open source software (OSS), how they participate, and what impact this has on OSS ecosystems. It follows a systematic literature review protocol to collect and synthesize 92 papers across 51 venues, focusing on three dimensions: motivations (economic, technological, social), participation models (contribution and collaboration), and impacts on companies, developers, and OSS projects. The study identifies concrete motivation categories, catalogues varied engagement patterns, and analyzes both positive and negative effects, providing a structured view of the OSS 2.0 landscape. By outlining research opportunities and limitations, the paper offers guidance for researchers and practitioners on navigating commercial participation in OSS to support sustainable, open, and innovative software ecosystems.

Abstract

Open source software (OSS) has been playing a fundamental role in not only information technology but also our social lives. Attracted by various advantages of OSS, increasing commercial companies take extensive participation in open source development and have had a broad impact. This paper provides a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) of existing research on company participation in OSS. We collected 92 papers and organized them based on their research topics, which cover three main directions, i.e., participation motivation, contribution model, and impact on OSS development. We found the explored motivations of companies are mainly from economic, technological, and social aspects. Existing studies categorize companies' contribution models in OSS projects mainly through their objectives and how they shape OSS communities. Researchers also explored how commercial participation affects OSS development. We conclude with research challenges and promising research directions on commercial participation in OSS. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of commercial participation in OSS development.
Paper Structure (28 sections, 3 figures, 4 tables)

This paper contains 28 sections, 3 figures, 4 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background
  3. Study Design
  4. Research Questions
  5. Study Selection
  6. Sources of Information
  7. Paper Selection
  8. Snowball Sampling
  9. Selection Criteria
  10. RQ1: What are the characteristics of studies about commercial participation in OSS?
  11. RQ1.1: What are the trends of studies on commercial participation in OSS over time?
  12. RQ1.2: What is the distribution of the publication venues?
  13. RQ1.3: What is the distribution of the research methods?
  14. RQ2: What are the motivations of for-profit companies for participating in OSS projects?
  15. Economic Motivations
  16. ...and 13 more sections

Figures (3)

  • Figure 1: Mindmap of this SLR
  • Figure 2: Publication Trend of Studies on Commercial Participation in OSS.
  • Figure 3: Distribution of Reported Methods in the Selected Studies.