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HP said in a statement Wednesday it will make the WebOS app development tool Enyo 2.0 available immediately, kick starting the app-creation process. Enyo is a developer's tool used for writing apps that will work across multiple mobile devices and web browsers.

By releasing Enyo 2.0 first, HP hopes to attract the first wave of developers to its operating system as it continues with the process of making it an open-source platform.

The technology giant plans to gradually release individual WebOS components to the open-source community over the next eight months, hitting scheduled milestones until it makes version 1.0 of the entire source code available in late September.

The drawn-out schedule reflects a cautious outlook on HP's part, and hints at the scale of the ambitious project. HP's development staff must make sure no part of its WebOS source code infringes on any other operating system, such as Android or iOS, to avoid becoming embroiled in the patent lawsuits plaguing much of the mobile technology industry.

At the same time, HP needs to keep interest and momentum alive among the open-source community and follow a schedule that balances the time necessary to release an error-free OS against demand for another open-source system to run on mobile devices.

On the WebOS-enthusiasts' forum WebOS Nation, members are complaining about the long wait, saying "HP should have hired more people," and that the September deadline is "a little longer than hoped," the tech blog Mashable reported.

HP, however, stands behind its plan. "We feel really good about the timeline," an HP spokesman told Mashable. "We're thrilled to be putting some of the code into the hands of developers today. We feel it's a smart and aggressive schedule."

The release schedule also impacts where WebOS will stand in the marketplace against rival Android once it becomes available. Google boasts 700,000 Android activations daily, and plans to put its OS on everything from new smartphones and tablets to washer-dryers and refrigerators this year.

The longer HP waits, the more widespread Android grows, making time of the essence if HP hopes to create a strong Android competitor by making WebOS open source.

Android, however, is also reportedly more susceptible to malware and suffers from fragmentation due to different versions of the OS operating on varied devices. In addition, Google's recent changes to its privacy policy could have some Android enthusiasts looking for other options when it comes time to buy a new phone or tablet.

If HP can drum up enough developer interest over its eight-month release schedule and assure the marketplace it can offer an OS that combats Android's security and fragmentation issues, it could find a new niche in the mobile market.