Open source and consumption

Abstract

This article illuminates the common concepts and widely-observed practices concerning open-sourcing. Positioning “open-source” as a common practice and a viable methodology for collaborative participatory co-production in today’s knowledge society, the article explains how open-source co-production participatory methods, now also seen in culture, food, and beverage production and consumption, have evolved from the Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) movement; what motivates people to participate; and how such widely-observed open-source practices are embedded in different sectors and different societies. It is argued that open-source practices resemble amateur do-it-yourself (DIY) maker practices and can be considered as a lifestyle choice.