OSS 2014 - Systematic Review on Barriers Faced by Newcomers to OSS
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The document summarizes a systematic literature review that identifies barriers faced by newcomers when contributing to open source software projects. The review analyzed 21 studies using open and axial coding. The most common barriers included a lack of previous technical experience, not receiving timely responses from the community, and difficulties with social interactions among core team members. The studies showed high diversity in the projects analyzed but lacked qualitative research exploring barriers directly from newcomers' perspectives.
![Context
... and need support on
their first steps
Newcomers are explorers who
must orient themselves within an
unfamiliar landscape...
[Degenais et al. 2010]
B. Dagenais, H. Ossher, R.K.E Bellamy, M.P. Robillard and J.P.
de Vries, Moving into a new software project landscape,
in ICSE 2010.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/osssysreview-140710115259-phpapp01/85/OSS-2014-Systematic-Review-on-Barriers-Faced-by-Newcomers-to-OSS-2-320.jpg)
![Method
Systematic Literature Review
Aims to present a fair evaluation of a research
topic by using a trustworthy, rigorous, and
auditable methodology [Kitchenham, 2004]
Analysis of papers using open coding + axial
coding (Grounded Theory)
Kitchenham, B.: Procedures for performing systematic reviews. Tech. rep., Keele
University and NICTA (2004)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/osssysreview-140710115259-phpapp01/85/OSS-2014-Systematic-Review-on-Barriers-Faced-by-Newcomers-to-OSS-6-320.jpg)
OSS 2014 - Systematic Review on Barriers Faced by Newcomers to OSS
- 1. Barriers faced by newcomers to open source projects: a Systematic Review Igor Steinmacher Marco Aur辿lio Graciotto Silva Marco Aur辿lio Gerosa
- 2. Context ... and need support on their first steps Newcomers are explorers who must orient themselves within an unfamiliar landscape... [Degenais et al. 2010] B. Dagenais, H. Ossher, R.K.E Bellamy, M.P. Robillard and J.P. de Vries, Moving into a new software project landscape, in ICSE 2010.
- 3. Context A group of PhD students received an assignment: Contribute significantly to an OSS project Result: All succeeded!!! But... Onboarding was very hard emails not answered after a week outdated information on the issue tracker waste of time on an already existent feature concurrent work on translation caused by an unread/ unanswered message sent to devs forum undocumented code/architecture
- 4. Goal Identifying the barriers that newcomers face when contributing to an Open Source Software project Aggregate the barriers evidenced by different studies and organize them
- 5. Scope and Definitions Community-based OSS projects Newcomer Onboarding Contribution = source code Outsider Onboarding Contributing Newcomer Contributor Member Motivation Attractiveness Retention Onboarding Barriers Onboarding Onboarding Barriers
- 6. Method Systematic Literature Review Aims to present a fair evaluation of a research topic by using a trustworthy, rigorous, and auditable methodology [Kitchenham, 2004] Analysis of papers using open coding + axial coding (Grounded Theory) Kitchenham, B.: Procedures for performing systematic reviews. Tech. rep., Keele University and NICTA (2004)
- 7. Systematic Literature Review Research Question What are the barriers that hinder newcomers onboarding to OSS projects? Keywords based on research question:
- 8. Systematic Literature Review Selecting the studies Query Digital Libraries Selection of Primary Studies Analysis of Primary Studies using open coding Author snowballing Backward snowballing ACM, IEEE, Scopus SpringerLink (("OSS" OR "Open Source" OR "Free Software" OR FLOSS OR FOSS) AND (newcomer OR "joining process" OR newbie OR "new developer" OR "new member" OR "new contributor" OR "new member" OR novice OR beginner OR "potential participant" OR retention OR joiner OR onboarding OR "new committer"))
- 9. Systematic Literature Review Studies found and selected
- 10. Systematic Literature Review Resulting map of barriers
- 11. Systematic Literature Review Stakeholder that needs to take action
- 14. Mapping Forums
- 15. Conclusions 21 studies that evidence barriers that can hinder newcomers onboarding in OSS projects Most evidenced barriers: newcomers previous technical experience receiving response from community social interactions with core members
- 16. Conclusions Social interaction issues is the most thoroughly studied category: 71.42% (15 out of 21) papers High focus on interaction in mailing lists (MSR) Technical issues are under-investigated code issues are evidenced by only 6 studies
- 17. Conclusions High diversity of projects studied Growth of studies evidencing problems No studies aiming specifically at identifying the barriers faced by newcomers to OSS Most part of the studies rely on results of quantitative case studies Qualitative work is needed to reveal the barriers and needs of the newcomers
- 18. Thank you! Questions? Igor Steinmacher igorfs@utfpr.edu.br Marco Aur辿lio Graciotto Silva magsilva@utfpr.edu.br Marco Aur辿lio Gerosa gerosa@ime.usp.br