Global networks in collaborative programming

Fabian Braesemann,Niklas Stoehr,Mark Graham

doi:10.1080/21681376.2019.1588155

Fabian Braesemann, Niklas Stoehr + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2019.1588155

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Abstract

ABSTRACTTo understand the dynamics of the digital knowledge economy, it is crucial to reveal the geography of global flows of knowledge on digital platforms. This article visualizes a key form of knowledge production in the digital economy: mapping the joint collaborations of users from different cities on Stack Overflow, the world’s most popular question-and-answer website for programming questions. The network map reveals that users from only a limited number of places are actively taking part in the exchange of programming knowledge. While Stack Overflow access and participation are theoretically unrestricted, contributions are clustered in metropolitan regions in North America, Western Europe, and South Asia.CODE AND DATA www.github.com/Braesemann/GlobalProgrammingNetworks

Highlights

E collaboration might help to explain the strong position of certain countries in other domains, such as the leading role of Indian freelancers on online labour platforms
To understand the dynamics of the digital knowledge economy, it is crucial to reveal the geography of global flows of knowledge on digital platforms
This article visualizes a key form of knowledge production in the digital economy: mapping the joint collaborations of users from different cities on Stack Overflow, the world’s most popular question-and-answer website for programming questions

Summary

Introduction

E collaboration might help to explain the strong position of certain countries in other domains, such as the leading role of Indian freelancers on online labour platforms. To understand the dynamics of the digital knowledge economy, it is crucial to reveal the geography of global flows of knowledge on digital platforms. This article visualizes a key form of knowledge production in the digital economy: mapping the joint collaborations of users from different cities on Stack Overflow, the world’s most popular question-and-answer website for programming questions.

Results

Conclusion