Microsoft is undeniably embracing open source more and more, from its interoperability initiatives to its open source lab and to the integration of alternative development practices into its own model of building proprietary software. One aspect of the Redmond giant's new found focus on open source is the creation of a new hybrid software development model. The initiative is based on research from Paula Bach, with the Open Source Software Lab and Microsoft Research. Bach is looking to enable support usability activities in Codeplex, the company's open source project hosting website. This will be done via a tool designed to fit a framework dealing with introducing usability into open source.

"The most interesting part of my research is that it is situated right in the middle of open source hybridization. A hybrid open source software development model combines a business model, either open source or proprietary, and open, two-way community input. The basis of my argument for the research is as follows: open source software development has been so successful that proprietary companies have been paying attention to incorporating open source strategies into their business model and very successful open source projects have had business models created around them," Bach stated.

For Microsoft, the ground zero of the open source hybridization experiment will be at Codeplex. In this regard, Bach warned that there is still a long way to go before a developed model of usability would be implemented into a hybrid software development environment. However, the Redmond company has a long tradition of transplanting usability activities into its proprietary software products, and the Codeplex hybridization is simply a new step for Microsoft.

"I am working with the CodePlex team to develop usability support for CodePlex. This means that the CodePlex community will have a say in how we design the support. Traditionally, open source projects are challenged for usability resources so the support has to range from being able to support code-centered and usability-interested developers to the possibility of usability professionals. The project addresses three main challenges for usability in open source: merit and trust, chasm between work activities, and incommensurable tools and methods," Bach added.