The Four Principles of (Open) Knowledge Development

[Further discussion and elucidation of the ideas in this piece can be found in the follow-up: What Do We Mean by Componentization (for Knowledge)?]



The Four Principles

Open knowledge allows (and requires for its success) a development process that is:

  • Incremental
  • Decentralized (and asyncrhonous)
  • Collaborative
  • Componentized (and ‘packagized’)


Incremental implies a process that allows for lots of gradual improvement and contribution. Like all of the the four principles this applies to the development of closed as well as open knowledge. However it operates more powerfully in an ‘open’ situation where the boundary between participants and non-participants is porous and it is easier for ‘just anyone’ to get involved.


Open knowledge allows for a decentralized (and asynchronous) development process. This greatly reduces rigidities and also allows for a far wider participation in a given project. At the same time it demands a more sophisticated set of development tools and processes.


Just like code, knowledge can be developed by a single individual but its real strength is that it can be developed collaboratively. The collaborative aspect of open knowledge is strongly related, and dependent upon, the the principles of decentralization and componentization.








The change to a componentized architecture will be complex but, once achieved, will revolutionize the production and development of open knowledge. Along with the other three principles of incrementalism, decentralization, collaboration it will characterize the process of open knowledge development.