Lab1 - Code Review

 

In Lab 1, we were tasked with researching two open-source software packages that possess different licenses.

I would like to discuss Signal, the encrypted messaging service, and Mozilla Firefox, the web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation.


1. Signal


Signal uses the AGPL(Affero General Public License) v3. Contributors to Signal use GitHub to propose changes via pull requests. After a pull request is generated, collaborative discussions and feedback exchanges take place through the issues section and comments on the pull requests. Once successfully passing all necessary checks and validations, individual contributions are merged into the main branch.

During the analysis of various bug fixes, it became apparent that the time required to address these issues varied significantly, ranging from resolving them on the same day to taking a couple of months. Typically, it appeared that 3 to 4 developers collaborated to address a single issue.

Signal's development process heavily relies on GitHub as the primary platform for code submission, review, and discussions. To effectively manage different operating systems, Signal has established multiple repositories. GitHub is known for its user-friendly interface and well-documented collaboration features. The advantages of GitHub enables Signal to manage multiple repositories in an organized manner on a single platform. Furthermore, it conveniently provides all modified files, simplifying the process of updating for contributors. However, it's important to note that while GitHub provides a secure platform for hosting code, it is still vulnerable to security breaches. For the secure encryption messaging service of Signal, developers must remain vigilant in addressing this concern.


2. Mozilla Firefox



Mozilla Firefox is released under the Mozilla Public License (MPL). Contributions to Firefox are typically submitted in the form of patches through the Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) platform. Feedback and discussions take place within the Bugzilla issue tracking system. Reviewers provide feedback, request changes, and engage in technical discussions regarding the contributions. Based on my observation, a maximum of 5 developers are usually involved in discussing an issue. Bugzilla provides various filtered information to manage the issues. The contributors can see the bugs in each log with other useful messages. However, it also has a disadvantage in that it may appear complex and less user-friendly to newcomers. In my case, having primarily experienced GitHub, I initially found it less intuitive and challenging to understand. Nonetheless, it does offer more detailed information, particularly in the category and tracking sections. An example illustrating the availability of information can be seen here.

Conclusion

Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I prefer using GitHub for submitting patches. The reason is that, even though Mozilla provides more detailed information about bug issues, which helps with understanding, its unfamiliar user interface can pose a significant barrier within an open-source community. I also noticed that many open-source software projects are managed using GitHub. I've discerned that there are compelling reasons underpinning the extensive adoption of GitHub in the professional realm. It is not the only solution for open-source management, but one of the best approaches to continue developing.







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