The Cathedral and the Bazaar

"The Cathedral and the Bazaar" is a metaphor for two different approaches to software development. The "Cathedral" model reflects a centralized, top-down process where a few experts create a polished product, akin to building a cathedral. The "Bazaar" model embraces an open, collaborative approach, with many contributors improving the project through community input, similar to a bustling marketplace. The essay advocates for the open-source "Bazaar" method, highlighting that diverse participation and iterative feedback tend to produce more robust, adaptable software. This comparison underscores the value of transparency, community involvement, and flexibility in software development.