Even if all open source communities aren't created equal, there are several characteristics that stand out amongst those which flourish. Qualities and tendencies which are often taken as a given within the context of open source but can and do go missing within other types of communities.

"...The first examples of online creation communities are development communities, that is communities developed around free software programming, such as the communities around Apache, GNU and Linux, Debian or Drupal.

Marketing maven Tara Hunt has written a book, entitled "The Whuffie Factor", which can help Free Open Source Software communities increase their reach into the mainstream newbie world. Hunt's book is particularly useful for FOSS communities because it gives practical advice on how to maximize an org's impact on a limited budget.

GNOME Foundation executive director Stormy Peters discussed ways to bridge the gap between companies and open source software communities during a presentation at the Southern California Linux Expo.

the software created by open source communities became so powerful that commercial interests embraced those communities, supported them, learned from them and now are using the mechanisms of open source to make their businesses run better

I was surfing around yesterday, I noticed that OpenSource.com has an article about building communities that work.

"...In 1998, some of the people in the free software community began using the term "open source software" instead of "free software" to describe what they do. The term "open source" quickly became associated with a different approach, a different philosophy, different values, and even a different criterion for which licenses are acceptable. The Free Software movement and the Open Source movement are today separate movements with different views and goals, although we can and do work together on some practical projects..."

Scholars understand a great deal about how bureaucratic organizations work, but they know a lot less about how open source communities govern themselves.

Groklaw has been recognized with a 2008 Prix Ars Electronica Honorable Mention, in the category of Digital Communities. Here's what that means: The "Digital Communities" category will honor important achievements by digital communities as well as innovative artistic approaches towards web-based communities.