"The strategic marketing paradigm of Open Source is a massively-parallel drunkard's walk filtered by a Darwinistic process"
- Bruce Perens
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This quote by Bruce Perens is describing the marketing method of Open Source. The metaphor of a "alcoholic's walk" is used to describe the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the Open Source marketing process. This is since the marketing procedure is not directed by a single entity, however rather is driven by the collective efforts of various individuals. The "Darwinistic process" describes the idea that the most successful marketing strategies will be the ones that have the ability to make it through and grow in this chaotic environment. This is similar to the principle of natural selection, where only the fittest methods will be able to make it through and prosper. The combination of these two concepts produces a "massively-parallel" marketing process, where various techniques are being tested and examined at the very same time. This allows Open Source to quickly adjust to altering market conditions and to discover the most efficient techniques for reaching its target audience.
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