One can conclude that the contributions to an Open Source community are acts of performance within the legal framework that defines access and ownership. The hierarchy of trust and authenticity is based on current and earlier performance in the community. Emotions evolve in relation to the performance: to be recognized, to fill the space etc. Benevolent dictators of the meritocracy orchestrate and mediate these performances, emotions and relations between the participants in the community.
Performance and reputation
The building of software is all publicised. Therefore in an Open Source community one works for an audience. Failed performance towards the deadline of a release date damages someone’s reputation and generates a loss of credibility. Who has previously contributed successfully to the documentation, the bug report, the patches or to the CBS archive, will be more easily believed and accepted.
