This is an annotated list of resources important and relevant to the open source movement. As it is meant to be potent list rather than an exhaustive one, this bibliography is a good resource for those who are just becoming acquainted with open source. Just like an open source project, any modifications, changes, or important addition can and should be added.
As a public front of the Open Source Initiative (OSI), this site contains good material for those new to open source. The Open Source Definition (OSD) version 1.9, found on this site clearly defines open source software through criteria that set open source apart from other types of software. Introductory material continues with a set of articles that explain how open source software can benefit businesses, customers, and hackers. Deeper issues can be explored through both the Recommended Reading Section and host articles such as Jobs for Hackers: Yes, You Can Eat Open Source, Software Secrets: Do They Help Or Hurt?, and Why "Free Software" is Too Ambiguous. For further delving, a list of common licenses the Halloween Documents, and more articles are available.
As the home of the GNU Public License, the GNU Project's website holds important information about a large set of open source software. Documents written by Richard Stallman, the founder of the GNU project and an important person to open source, and other people connected with the project are hosted by the GNU project website
Released near Halloween in 1998, the first Halloween document found its way to the public light through a man named Eric Raymond. The document was a confidential memorandum from Microsoft stating the corporation's strategy with respect to Linux and open source software. Recognized as important by the press, the released document was covered as a major story. Days after the document was released, a second document followed. Next a third document was revealed. The trend continued and a total of 11 documents found their way from Redmond to the gaze of the public eye. These documents set the stage for the current situation of open source community with respect to the corporate community.
Detailed and in-depth, the Timeline of GNU/Linux and Unix by Jorn Barger begins with the birth of Dennis Ritche in 1941 and continues to present day. Many events are included in the timeline and range from version releases of software, events in the personal lives of people key to open source, and to historic newsgroup threads. Most events are compete with relevant links.
"freshmeat maintains the Web's largest index of Unix and cross-platform software, themes and related 'eye-candy', and Palm OS software. Thousands of applications, which are preferably released under an open source license, are meticulously cataloged in the freshmeat database, and links to new applications are added daily. Each entry provides a description of the software, links to download it and to obtain more information, and a history of the project's releases, so readers can keep up-to-date on the latest developments. "
"freshmeat is the first stop for Linux users hunting for the software they need for work or play. It is continuously updated with the latest developments from the 'release early, release often' community. In addition to providing news on new releases, freshmeat offers a variety of original content on technical, political, and social aspects of software and programming, written by both freshmeat readers and Free Software luminaries. The comment board attached to each page serves as a home for spirited discussion, bug reports, and technical support. An essential resource for serious developers, freshmeat.net makes it possible to keep up on who's doing what, and what everyone else thinks of it. "
Taken from freshmeat.net's about page.
"SourceForge.net is the world's largest Open Source software development web site, providing free hosting to tens of thousands of projects. The mission of SourceForge.net is to enrich the Open Source community by providing a centralized place for Open Source developers to control and manage Open Source software development. To fulfill this mission goal, we offer a variety of services to projects we host, and to the Open Source community."
Taken from About SourceForge.net.