Even by just browsing its table of contents you can tell that it is indeed a very important book on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). And then when you read each chapter you’ll both discover and understand a lot of new things about the revolution that FOSS has unleashed. That is because the book discusses such crucial topics as the motivation in FOSS development, the evaluation of FOSS development, the FOSS processes and tools, the FOSS economic and business models, and the legal aspects of FOSS.

It is aptly entitled “Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software“. It can be downloaded for free at the MIT Press website. The authors of each chapter of the book are experts in their own fields and have been involved in the development of FOSS through the years. In their exposition of their respective topics, the authors offer various points of view: technical, legal, economic, philosophical, social and personal.

There is a lot to know about FOSS, that’s why I like reading this book because it allows me to understand better the inner workings of FOSS and to appreciate more the efforts of FOSS developers and end-users. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a better grasp of the foundations, development, and principles of Free and Open Source Software from different perspectives.