When SourceCode is forked, two or more groups, with different visions, develop the code to their own ends. The NetworkEffect is a powerful deterient to forking, since halving the number of developers working on the source for a project more than halves the productivity of each group. In most cases all but one of the forks eventually withers and dies, ironically leaving the remaining fork with a much more clearly defined vision.
Well-known examples include
See also OpenSource
see fork(2)
the fork system call is fun, it returns twice... once in each different process. it returns 0 to the child, and the pid of the child to the parent. Very funky :)
