Cathedral and the Bazaar

Definitions

1. A widely cited framing from Eric S. Raymond contrasting two software development styles: the tightly controlled 'cathedral' model and the open, iterative 'bazaar' model common in open source. The phrase became part of tech culture as shorthand for centralized versus community-driven ways of building software.

   In plain English: A famous way of comparing closed, top-down software building with open community-driven development.

   Example: "That project shifted from cathedral and the bazaar territory into a much more managed release model."

Related Terms

• Benevolent Dictator
• AOSP
• Contributor Covenant
• IRC
• Open Source Governance
• Open Source Sustainability
• The Cathedral
• Bazaar