Afleveringen
-
Guest
Chad Whitacre
Panelists
Richard Littauer | Eriol Fox
Show Notes
In this episode, host Richard Littauer and co-host Eriol Fox interview Chad Whitacre, a key figure in the open source community and Head of Open Source at Sentry. Today, they delve into the challenges and strategies related to sustaining open source projects, focusing on Sentry's efforts to fund open source through various initiatives, including the ambitious Open Source Pledge. The discussion covers the history of Sentry's commitment to open source, the creation of a comprehensive funding program, and the launch of the Open Source Pledge. The pledge aims to encourage companies to contribute financially to open source by establishing a social norm. Chad also touches on the broader impact and potential of open source foundations and platforms in allocating funds and supporting maintainers, highlighting the importance of making open source a core part of company culture and brand identity. Press download now to hear more!
[00:01:50] Chad provides a brief history of Sentry, its evolution from an open source project to a start-up, and its commitment to support open source projects. He discusses Sentry’s open source funding program, its growth over the years, and the company’s budget plans for the current year.
[00:04:04] Chad talks about the importance of other companies joining Sentry in funding open source projects and mentions the launch of the “Open Source Pledge.”
[00:05:05] Chad explains that funding open source is part of Sentry’s brand marketing, similar to how large companies sponsor events for brand visibility.
[00:07:48] Richard asks about the potential dilution of Sentry’s brand by encouraging other companies to join the funding efforts. Chad explains that the “Open Source Pledge” requires companies to contribute a minimum of $2,000 per developer annually and share their contributions publicly.
[00:11:37] Eriol expresses concerns about the focus on developers, noting the importance of other roles like designers in the open source ecosystem. Chad acknowledges the different roles in open source and discusses how Sentry focuses on funding dependencies critical to their tech stack.
[00:14:56] Chad talks about the role of open source foundations, especially in light of new European regulations (CRA), and their potential to steward funds more effectively.
[00:18:55] Richard questions how foundations can pay developers under U.S. law, leading to a discussion on the need for potential changes in how foundations operate.
[00:21:48] Eriol appreciates the “Open Source Pledge” for providing a vocabulary and structure to involve organizations and companies in supporting open source.
[00:23:06] Chad talks about the upcoming media campaign to promote the pledge and the aim to establish a new social norm around funding open source.
[00:25:13] Richard asks how the pledge ensures that funds given are truly no-strings- attached to which Chad responds that platforms like GitHub Sponsors typically enforce a no-strings-attached culture, and the pledge doesn’t directly handle funds but incentivizes companies to contribute through established platforms.
[00:27:56] Richard seeks clarification on how the pledge ensures contributions don’t come with expectations of ongoing development work from maintainers. Chad emphasizes the need for adding more financial support to the open source ecosystem and fostering collaboration among platforms, foundations, and maintainers.
[00:33:49] The conversation concludes with a brief mention of Fair Source, another initiative Chad is involved in.
[00:34:14] Find out where you can follow Chad and his work online.
Spotlight
[00:34:56] Eriol’s spotlight is a project called, Cofacts.
[00:35:45] Richards’s spotlight is his high school advisor, Rob Kyff.
[00:36:25] Chad’s spotlight is Kim Coggin, a dry stack stonewaller.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Eriol Fox X/Twitter (https://x.com/EriolDoesDesign?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
Chad Whitacre LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwhitacre/)
Chad Whitacre Blog (https://openpath.chadwhitacre.com/)
Chad Whitacre X/Twitter (https://x.com/chadwhitacre_?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
Sentry (https://sentry.io/welcome/)
The Future of FOSS Foundations by Chad Whitacre (https://openpath.chadwhitacre.com/2024/the-future-of-foss-foundations/)
Open Source Pledge-GitHub (https://github.com/opensourcepledge/osspledge.com)
Open Source Pledge (https://osspledge.com/)
Fair Source (https://fair.io/)
Cofacts (https://github.com/cofacts)
Rob Kyff (https://www.creators.com/author/rob-kyff)
Rob Kyff-The Word Guy (https://www.creators.com/features/rob-kyff-word-guy)
Kim Coggin-Laurel Stoneworks (https://www.laurelstoneworks.com/)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Chad Whitacre. -
Guest
Divya Mohan
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode, host Richard Littauer welcomes guest Divya Mohan, Principal Technology Advocate at SUSE, as they discuss her journey into open source and her role in advocating for SUSE's projects. The conversation delves into the importance of community involvement, the goals of CHAOSS Asia, and the challenges of fostering a cohesive open-source community across a diverse continent. They also explore the necessity of standardization within the CHAOSS project to ensure trust and reliability, highlighting cultural differences in open-source adoption across Asia. Additionally, Divya shares insights on bridging gaps in FOSS education, overcoming language barriers, and new initiatives, including efforts to include Oceania and focus on disabled Asians in the open-source community. Press download now to hear more!
[00:01:30] Divya explains her journey into open source and her current role in advocating for projects without focusing on marketing or selling.
[00:02:24] She elaborates on SUSE’s focus on cloud-native projects, SAP, and Edge, while mentioning that she was the sole technology advocate until recently.
[00:03:02] Divya discusses her responsibilities, including creating awareness materials, live streams, and courses around SUSE’s projects, particularly focusing on open source projects.
[00:04:22] Divya emphasizes the importance of community involvement in open source projects, mentioning that while the core maintainers are SUSE employees, the wider community is encouraged to contribute. She also clarifies that SUSE projects are inherently open source from the beginning.
[00:07:42] The conversation shifts to Divya’s involvement in CHAOSS Asia, a regional chapter of the CHAOSS project, and she talks about the goals of CHAOSS Asia, which include discovering unique challenges of open source communities in Asia, building a database of these communities, and working on the standardization of metrics.
[00:11:42] The discussion delves deeper into why standardization is necessary for CHAOSS Asia, particularly focusing on the regional differences and the need for a trusted seal of approval.
[00:13:26] Richard questions the necessity of ISO standards for open source projects, and Divya explains that it’s about providing a clear definition of what is accepted within the metrics, drawing parallels with the open chain standard.
[00:15:39] The conversation returns to the ISO standard, with Divya noting that the demand for a standard came from Asian companies, highlighting the cultural and regional differences in the IT industry.
[00:17:14] Richard and Divya discuss the diverse approaches to open source contributions across different Asian regions and the challenges of fostering a cohesive open source community across such a diverse continent.
[00:19:03] Divya shares insights on the varying governmental and business support for open source in different Asian countries, and the fragmented nature of FOSS education across the continent.
[00:22:17] Divya touches on the language barriers within CHAOSS Asia and how they’re addressed through transcription tools and subgroups. She also mentions new initiatives, including a focus group for disabled Asians in the open source community.
[00:23:26] Richard and Divya discuss the inclusion of Oceania in CHAOSS Asia and expresses hope for more participation from Oceania.
[00:24:40] Find out where you can follow Divya and CHAOSS Asia online.
Quotes
[00:22:50] “OSS projects are the best example of how asynchronous communities can give something of value.”
Spotlight
[00:25:36] Richard’s spotlight is Stephen E. Thorpe.
[00:26:44] Divya’s spotlight is Savitha Raghunathan.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Divya Mohan LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-mohan0209/)
Divya Mohan’s Website (https://www.divyamohan.com/)
Divya Mohan X/Twitter (https://x.com/Divya_Mohan02?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SUSE (https://www.suse.com/)
CHAOSS Asia (https://github.com/chaoss/chaoss-asia)
CHAOSS Metrics and Metrics Models (https://chaoss.community/kb-metrics-and-metrics-models/)
Stephen E. Thorpe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_E._Thorpe)
Savitha Raghunathan LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/savitharaghunathan/)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Divya Mohan. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Guest
Brian Douglas
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer talks with Brian “bdougie” Douglas, founder and CEO of Open Sauced. They discuss the multifaceted aspects of sustaining open source projects, Brian’s journey in developer advocacy, and the unique goals of Open Sauced. Brian shares insights from his experiences at GitHub and Netlify, elaborates on concepts like lottery factor and the significance of unique issue authors, and tackles the challenges of maintaining open source sustainability. He also explores the balance of addressing enterprise needs while supporting smaller, less visible projects and emphasizes the importance of education and community engagement in open source. Press download now!
[00:01:54] Brian discusses his background at GitHub and Netlify, his role in promoting GraphQL, GitHub Actions, Codespaces, and the inception of Open Sauced.
[00:03:08] We hear about the features of Open Sauced’s dashboard which enhances GitHub insights, OSSF scorecards, and workspace customizations for managing multiple projects.
[00:04:31] Open Sauced’s business model is currently founded by VC money and aims to serve large organizations with significant open source dependencies, and Brian talks about the team size and funding history.
[00:06:08] Brian elaborates on Open Sauced’s long-term sustainability plan, focusing on enterprise-level solutions for open source project observability and contributions.
[00:09:31] There’s a discussion on how Open Sauced interacts with open source communities and the importance of real-world testing and contributions to open source projects.
[00:11:06] Richard highlights the FOSS Funders initiative, encouraging companies to support open source projects financially and through active participation.
[00:12:44] Brian shares insights on effective metrics for evaluating open source projects, emphasizing the importance of engaging with unique issue authors rather than focusing solely on superficial metrics like pull requests, and discusses his approach to starting meaningful conversations in the open source community.
[00:16:08] Brian explains why he renamed “Lottery Factor” to “Contributor Absence Factor,” and discusses the Pgvector project to illustrate the importance of understanding the “Contributor Absence Factor” and the sustainability concerns when a project relies heavily on a few contributors.
[00:18:20] We learn more about how Open Sauced sources its data, including their use of GitHub’s events feed and their development of the “Pizza Oven” tool to generate insights from Git repositories.
[00:20:21] Richard and Brian discuss the challenges of maintaining an open source ethos when dealing with large companies’ internal projects, avoiding becoming merely service providers for large corporate entities.
[00:24:14] Brian discusses the long-term implications of open source projects that receive substantial funding or become integrated into larger corporate frameworks.
[00:27:27] Richard brings up the difficulty many open source projects face in accessing significant funding and Brian shares his vision for supporting less prominent open source projects drawing analogies from his personal experiences.
[00:32:42] Richard questions the “up the chain” analogy, comparing it to a pyramid scheme or academia’s tenure track. Brian acknowledges the need to support contributors at all levels, not just those at the top, and he introduces the concept of a S Bomb to provide transparency about project dependencies.
[00:39:36] Find out where you can follow Brian on the web.
Spotlight
[00:40:17] Richard’s spotlight is Mr. Carreras, an awesome music teacher.
[00:40:59] Brian’s spotlight is Dawn Foster at the CHAOSS Project and the CHAOSS Practitioner Guides.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Brian Douglas- Open Sauced (https://app.opensauced.pizza/u/bdougie)
Brian Douglas Website (https://b.dougie.dev/)
Brian Douglas GitHub (https://github.com/bdougie)
Brian Douglas X/Twitter (https://github.com/bdougie)
The Secret Sauce Open Sauced Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-sauce/id1644263270)
The Secret Sauce Podcast: ‘The Future of Cloud Native and AI with Brendan Burns’ (https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/the-future-of-cloud-native-and-ai-with-brendan-burns/id1644263270?i=1000658092259)
Open Sauced (https://opensauced.pizza/)
Renaming Bus Factor #632 (CHAOSS community) (https://github.com/chaoss/community/issues/632#issuecomment-2152929617)
FOSS Funders (https://fossfunders.com/)
Andrew Kane GitHub (https://github.com/ankane)
Chad Whitacre Website (https://chadwhitacre.com/)
Fair Source (https://fair.io/)
CHAOSS (https://chaoss.community/)
Your Copilot for Git History (Open Sauced) (https://opensauced.pizza/docs/features/star-search/)
Open Sauced GitHub (https://github.com/open-sauced/pizza)
InnerSource Commons (https://innersourcecommons.org/)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 148: Ali Nehzat of thanks.dev and OSS Funding (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/148)
Learning in Public with Kelsey Hightower (Curiefense) (https://www.curiefense.io/blog/learning-in-public-with-kelsey-hightower/)
Welcome to Wrexham (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_Wrexham)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 159: Dawn Foster & Andrew Nesbitt at State of Open Con 2023 (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/foster)
Dr. Dawn Foster Mastodon (https://hachyderm.io/@geekygirldawn)
About the CHAOSS Practitioner Guides (https://chaoss.community/about-chaoss-practitioner-guides/)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Brian Douglas. -
Guests
Jan Lehnardt | Alba Herrerías Ramírez
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer engages with Jan Lehnardt and Alba Herrerías Ramírez from Neighbourhoodie, a consultancy company based in Berlin and the Canary Islands. The discussion delves into Neighbourhoodie’s work on sustaining open source projects, their collaboration with the Sovereign Tech Fund for enhancing open source project's bug resilience, and the technical and ethical facets of their consultancy services. Insights are shared into their past and current projects, including PouchDB, CouchDB, and their contributions to humanitarian causes, emphasizing their focus on creating a sustainable impact in the open source community. Press download now to hear more!
[00:01:55] Jan explains the origin of Neighbourhoodie, which began with the Hoodie open source project, how the company evolved, the decline of the Hoodie project due to timing and resources, and how CouchDB and PouchDB continued to thrive.
[00:04:27] Richard asks about the company’s name and its novelty domain, and Jan gives an overview of Neighbourhoodie’s size and slow and steady growth, and their focus on a positive work environment.
[00:05:51] Jan gives a detail explanation of CouchDB and PouchDB’s functionality, particularly their offline-first and synchronization capabilities, and how this has been used in critical projects like the Ebola vaccine.
[00:08:41] Richard asks about maintaining ethical work practices and avoiding projects that conflict with Neighbourhoodie’s values.
[00:09:53] Jan discusses how Neighbourhoodie balances reinvesting in open source projects and expanding the company, focusing on professional services around CouchDB and PouchDB.
[00:11:53] Alba describes her role in leading Sovereign Tech Fund (STF) projects within Neighbourhoodie, and how they engage with various projects to offer support.
[00:13:31] Jan explains the STF’s Bug Resilience Program.
[00:16:33] Richard asks about the potential ethical dilemma when third-party consultants like Neighbourhoodie might be taking work that could have otherwise gone to maintainers themselves. We hear how Neighbourhoodie, the projects, and the STF agree on statements of work, including milestones and time estimates, to ensure fairness and proper allocation of resources.
[00:21:23] We learn from Jan that dealing with low-quality bug reports isn’t a primary focus of their work, but improving test coverage, dependency updates, and CI/CD processes helps mitigate these issues as a side effect.
[00:22:54] Alba talks about the different types of projects they work in, such as OpenPGP.js, Sequioa, Yocto, PyPi, Systemd, PHP, Log4j, and reproducible builds.
[00:23:49] Jan discusses the challenges and learning opportunities that comes with working across diverse projects, each with its own set of tools, communication styles, and cultural contexts.
[00:25:29] Richard reflects on the complexity of open source sustainability and Alba describes how they research projects and identify areas where they can provide the most help, tailoring their approach to the specific needs of each project.
[00:27:25] Jan explains that they don’t dictate solutions but rather collaborate with projects to address their most pressing needs, often helping to mediate between different parts of a project to find common ground.
[00:30:07] Jan explains how they educate clients to take responsibility for the scripts they deliver, unless there’s a long-term support contract in place.
[00:32:00] We learn how the Neighbourhoodie transition was organic and not part of a grand strategy and how they continue to contribute to open source through their consulting work.
[00:34:54] Richard questions the choice of open source as the main focus given its limitations, and Jan explains that open source is widely understood and accessible, making it a practical choice for their work.
[00:37:35] Alba and Jan share some highlights and fun things from their work.
[00:39:32] Find out where you can follow Jan and Alba online.
Quotes
[00:02:19] “The goal was to have two separate entities so that when the company puts out an open source project in its own name, and then the company goes under, and the project goes away, we wanted to not have that.”
[00:24:08] “If you do software long enough, you realize that the technical problems are just the sideshow and everything else you have to solve things on the people layer instead of the technology layer.”
[00:25:06] “The current monoculture of everything is on GitHub is not the only truth out there.”
[00:35:34] “Open source is the thing that everybody understands.”
Spotlight
[00:40:57] Richard’s spotlight is Gregor Martynus.
[00:41:54] Jan’s spotlight is AdonisJS.
[00:42:45] Alba’s spotlight is PouchDB.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Alba Herrerías Ramírez LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alba-herrerias-ramirez/)
Alba Herrerías Ramírez Website (https://www.albaherrerias.dev/)
Alba Herrerías Ramírez Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@albaherrerias)
Alba Herrerías Ramírez email (mailto:[email protected])
Jan Lehnardt LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-lehnardt-750b0816b/)
Jan Lehnardt Website (https://writing.jan.io/)
Jan Lehnardt Mastodon (https://narrativ.es/@janl)
Jan Lehnardt email (mailto:[email protected])
Neighbourhoodie Software (https://neighbourhood.ie/)
CouchDB (https://couchdb.apache.org/)
Sovereign Tech Fund (https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/)
Bug Resilience Program (STF) (https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/programs/bug-resilience)
Sustain Podcast: 2 episodes with guest Daniel Stenburg (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/stenberg)
Gregor Martynus-GitHub (https://github.com/gr2m)
AdonisJS (https://adonisjs.com/)
PouchDB (https://pouchdb.com/)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guests: Alba Herrerías Ramírez and Jan Lehnardt. -
Guests
Elizabeth Barron | Luis Cañas-Diaz | Dawn Foster
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer is joined by three guests, Dawn Foster, Elizabeth Barron, and Luis Cañas Diaz, to discuss the CHAOSS Project's recent development of Practitioner Guides. The show delves into the purpose of these guides, which are designed to help open source projects interpret and utilize metrics to improve community health and sustainability. The guests explain the significance of metrics in open source projects, the challenges of defining and making them accessible, and how the guides can benefit different types of projects, from large corporations to individual developers. Topics covered include the background and format of the guides, specifics on the metrics discussed, and the practical applications and improvements these guides aim to facilitate. Go ahead and download this episode now!
[00:01:53] Dawn fills us in on the connections between the guests and their collective work on the CHAOSS Practitioner Guides.
[00:02:33] The conversation shifts to the specifics of the CHAOSS Project, highlighting the international community involvement and various working groups focusing on different aspects of open source projects like corporate OSPOs, university OSPOs, and diversity and equity initiatives.
[00:04:21] Luis describes the origin and work of Bitergia and its collaboration with CHAOSS Project, particularly in developing tools like Grimoire Lab.
[00:06:07] Richard turns the discussion to the CHAOSS Project’s Practitioner Guides, where Dawn discusses the purpose of the introduction guide in the series, designed to help users understand and apply metrics effectively across various open source contexts.
[00:09:48] There’s a discussion on the format of the guides, emphasizing their accessibility, ethical considerations in data handling, and how they’re designed to be adaptable to different needs. Luis highlights the need for CHAOSS and Bitergia projects to provide actionable insights rather than just more metrics.
[00:12:18] Elizabeth and Dawn explain the broader goal of the guides to not only provide metrics but also helps users interpret and apply these to drive tangible improvements in open source projects.
[00:13:44] We learn about the target audience for the guides and how they cater to both large organizational structures (OSPOs) and individual project maintainers.
[00:15:04] Dawn explains what the Contributor Sustainability Guide focuses on, emphasizing strategies for sustainable contribution and community involvement in open source projects.
[00:16:42] The discussion centers on renaming the “bus factor” metric to “contributor absence factor” to avoid the negative connotations of the original term, Luis emphasizes the relevance of metrics, particularly in small projects, and Dawn explains that the guides focus on a few key metrics per guide, chosen for their ease of understanding and minimal requirement for data collection.
[00:20:47] Richard inquires about the effectiveness of metrics in identifying if a project is on the wrong path, prompting a discussion on the goals of a project and how metrics align with those metrics. Elizabeth and Dawn stress the importance of aligning metrics with project goals and involving project contributors in discussions about what metrics are most relevant.
[00:23:26] The discussion continues with considerations on how metrics should supplement, not replace, expert judgement and involvement in project management. Elizabeth and Richard discuss the potential for projects to start with community growth in mind and the challenges in measuring and guiding such growth.
[00:27:07] The conversation switches to the remaining guides not yet covered, with Richard asking about the guides on Responsiveness and Organizational Participation. Dawn explains the Responsiveness guide, with its focus on key metrics like time to first response, time to close, and change request closure ratio. Elizabeth and Luis share why this is one of their favorite guides.
[00:32:12] We hear about the broader applicability of the guides. Richard questions if the guides are only for corporate-driven projects or if they can serve more relaxed open source environments. Dawn and Luis emphasize that the guides are valuable for a variety of stakeholders, including foundations and volunteers.
[00:33:49] Find out where you can look at the Practitioner Guides online.
Quotes
[00:06:34] “At the CHAOSS Project we have a whole bunch of metrics, and we have tools or software that help you gather those metrics.”
[00:06:56] “There is no one-size-fits-all approach to interpreting metrics.”
[00:14:00] “A lot of these guides were designed with OSPOs in mind. They’re all useful to anyone who’s managing a project.”
[00:18:45] “For metrics, the bigger the project, the more useful they are.”
Spotlight
[00:34:43] Richard’s spotlight is Johnny Wilson, an eBird reviewer.
[00:35:23] Elizabeth’s spotlight is a project called Clocker.
[00:36:19] Dawn’s spotlight is Nadia Eghbal’s book, _Working in Public: The Making and Maintenance of Open Source Software, _and her paper, “Roads and Bridges: The Unseen Labor Behind Our Digital Infrastructure.”
[00:37:18] Luis’s spotlight is Moodle, the OSS learning platform.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Elizabeth Barron Website (https://www.elizabeth-barron.com/)
Elizabeth Barron LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethn/)
Luis Cañas-Diaz Website (https://sanacl.wordpress.com/)
Luis Cañas-Diaz LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/canasdiaz/)
Dawn Foster Website (https://fastwonderblog.com/)
Dawn Foster LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnfoster/)
CHAOSS (https://chaoss.community/)
CHAOSS slack (https://chaoss-workspace.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-28p56bayt-67TRjdA4yJWQmUd4hCzULg#/shared-invite/email)
CHAOSS Practitioner Guides (https://chaoss.community/about-chaoss-practitioner-guides/)
Johnny Wilson-Ventures Birding Tours (https://www.birdventures.com/Johnny-Wilson.html)
Clocker (https://abhishekbanthia.com/clocker/)
Working in Public: The Making and Maintenance of Open Source Software by Nadia Eghbal (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578675862/)
“Roads and Bridges: The Unseen Labor Behind Our Digital Infrastructure” by Nadia Eghbal (https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/learning/research-reports/roads-and-bridges-the-unseen-labor-behind-our-digital-infrastructure/)
Nadia Asparouhova (Eghbal) Website (https://nadia.xyz/oss/)
Moodle (https://moodle.org/)
Sustain Podcast featuring Nadia Eghbal (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/nadia)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guests: Dawn Foster, Elizabeth Barron, and Luis Cañas Diaz. -
Guest
Ben Cotton
Panelist
Leslie Hawthorne
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, host Leslie Hawthorn is joined by guest, Ben Cotton, the Open Source Community Lead at Kusari and former Fedora Program Manager. Ben discusses his career path, the importance of intentional program management in open source projects, and shares insights from his book, 'Program Management for Open Source Projects.' The conversation covers the evolution of engagement in open source communities, the impact of professionalization, and the challenges posed by AI in maintaining open source inclusivity. They also touch on the current trends of corporate involvement in open source. Press download now to hear more!
[00:01:38] Ben mentions that he wrote his book to see his name on a cover but also explains the practical reasons for writing it, aiming to assist with the program management of open source projects.
[00:04:42] Leslie mentions Karl Fogel’s book and discusses how engagement with open source often starts with a technical interest but deepens due to human interactions within the community.
[00:05:28] Ben shares his background in synpotic meteorology and how an unexpected opportunity led him to maintain software for weather data visualization, which paved his way into system administration and eventually open source.
[00:10:43] Leslie and Ben discuss the evolution of participation in open source projects, noting changes in the community’s structure, barriers to entry for newcomers, and the importance of fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all contributors.
[00:13:43] Leslie discusses the trend towards older participants in open source projects and attributes it to the professionalization of these projects and she expresses concerns about how the focus on AI development might limit open engagement in open source projects.
[00:16:46] Ben remarks on the ease of using modern technology like Linux systems, contrasting it with earlier experiences that required more user involvement and customization. Leslie shares the potential benefits of AI, envisioning a future where technology adapts to individual needs, like assisting her visually impaired daughter.
[00:23:07] Ben reflects on generational differences in technology use and stresses the importance of understanding the impact of our technological choices on future generations, especially concerning environmental sustainability.
[00:27:24] Leslie brings up a question from Richard who was interested in hearing Ben’s view on program management in open source projects, and how it differs from the role of a developer who manages projects. Ben explains that roles in open source differ from corporate roles as individuals often wear multiple hats, switching between developer, designer, and documenter tasks.
[00:30:15] Leslie reflects on the challenges of task switching and the potential for burnout among open source maintainers, particularly those without corporate support. Ben suggests that open source maintainers allow newcomers to handle low-risk tasks to prevent burnout and maintain engagement.
[00:34:21] Leslie shares the grief she hears from friends about the typical career progression for developers into management roles, which may not align with their passions, emphasizing the importance of finding fulfillment in one's tasks.
[00:35:24] Ben discusses the challenging corporate attitudes towards open source as economic conditions shift. Leslie expresses dissatisfaction with how corporations have historically invested in open source communities, suggesting that even when funding was plentiful, investment was inadequate.
Spotlight
[00:40:56] Ben’s spotlight is WeeWX.
[00:42:44] Leslie’s spotlight is the great city of Berlin, Germany.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Leslie Hawthorn X/Twitter (https://x.com/lhawthorn?lang=en)
Leslie Hawthorn LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehawthorn/)
Ben Cotton Mastodon (https://hachyderm.io/@funnelfiasco)
Ben Cotton Website (https://funnelfiasco.com/)
Ben Cotton LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcotton/)
Kusari (https://www.kusari.dev/)
Program Management for Open Source Projects by Ben Cotton (https://pragprog.com/titles/bcosp/program-management-for-open-source-projects/)
Producing Open Source Software by Karl Fogel (https://producingoss.com/)
WeeWX (https://weewx.com/)
Berlin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Ben Cotton. -
GuestsTracy Hinds | Ashley WilliamsPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesOn today’s episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer is joined by guests, Tracy Hinds and Ashley Williams, to discuss the structural inequities and funding issues in open source. The episode delves deep into the misaligned incentives in the open source community, how regulatory and policy awareness is growing, and the potential for government regulations to create opportunities for open source maintainers. The conversation also covers the roles of various open source foundations, the impact of large corporations, and the need for more effective advocacy and compensation avenues for contributors. Tracy and Ashley announce their involvement in a working group focused on the European CRA legislation, aiming to bridge gaps between maintainers and policymakers. Press download now! [00:02:22] Ashley responds to Richard’s comment about everything being “totally screwed” in open source, but also points out misaligned incentives. She discusses the economic challenges of open source, such as the failure of sustaining efforts and its broader economic impact. [00:04:54] Richard mentions his other podcast “Open Source for Climate” which focuses on leveraging open source technology to combat the climate crisis. [00:06:10] There’s a discussion about potential regulatory and policy changes affecting open source, highlighting the need for a more equitable system. Ashley delves into economic theories relating to open source, particularly the concept of externalities and potential regulatory solutions, and upcoming regulations like the software bill of materials.[00:10:05] Tracy stresses the importance of involving open source maintainers in policy discussions to avoid misrepresentation by larger organizations alone.[00:11:47] Richard and Ashley discuss the representations of open source interests in policy making, particularly the dominance of large companies and the potential exclusion of individual maintainers. [00:16:04] Ashley critiques many language-based foundations for their minimal contribution to ecosystem, using Node Foundation as an example of one that has been beneficial due to its library ecosystem, notably NPM. [00:17:35] Tracy acknowledges the efforts of the Python Software Foundation (PSF) and Open Collective in fostering ecosystems that support paid contributors, emphasizing the importance of these roles for sustainability. [00:19:50] Richard notes that while centralized support like AWS services vouchers are helpful, these foundations do not effectively facilitate crucial conversations between maintainers and governments regarding open source regulation and standardization.[00:21:52] Ashley reflects on her experience as the Individual Membership Director at the Node Foundation, discussing the challenges of representing a diverse community within open source projects and foundations.[00:24:45] Tracy mentions her role as the first community seat director on the board, highlighting the evolution and ongoing adjustments in community representation within foundation governance. Also, she discusses the importance of involving individual maintainers in regulatory discussions. [00:27:47] Tracy talks about the economic opportunities in open source, facilitated by platforms like GitHub Sponsors and Patreon, which help reduce barriers for maintainers seeking financial support for their projects. [00:29:20] Ashley puts a small spin on Tracy’s optimistic view, noting significant opposition to the empowerment of small open source businesses, primarily due to corporate-dominated structures and antitrust-friendly environments in tech. She argues that open source has been consolidating. [00:33:29] Ashley fills us in on where you can follow her and their future discussions. She mentions a working group at the Eclipse Foundation focusing on CRA legislation, announcing an initiative to gather maintainer feedback on this legislation through a reading group. [00:35:42] Tracy mentions where you can find her online.Quotes[00:03:30] “We have open source – people who maintain open source don’t really make a lot of money from it. Attempts to sustain open source have largely failed.”[00:06:24] “Every OSS hacker is also incentivized to be a lawyer.”Spotlight[00:36:32] Richard’s spotlight is Jingna Zhang and her new social network, Cara.[00:37:25] Tracy’s spotlight is the book, Working in Public: The Making and Maintenance of Open Source Software. [00:38:09] Ashley’s spotlight is exercising for mental health.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])[email protected] (email) (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Tracy Hinds X/Twitter (https://x.com/hackygolucky?lang=en)Tracy Hinds Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@hackygolucky)Sustain Podcast-Episode 135 featuring Tracy Hinds (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/hinds)Ashley Williams Twitter (https://x.com/ag_dubs)Ashley Williams LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleygwilliams/)Sustain Podcast-Episode 145 featuring Ashley Williams (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/williams)Open Source Initiative (https://opensource.org/)OSS for Climate Podcast (https://ossforclimate.sustainoss.org/)Eclipse Foundation (https://www.eclipse.org/org/foundation/)Jingna Zhang (https://www.zhangjingna.com/) Cara (https://cara.app/login)Working in Public: The Making and Maintenance of Open Source Software by Nadia Eghbal (https://www.amazon.com/Working-Public-Making-Maintenance-Software/dp/0578675862)Sustain Podcast-Episode 51 featuring Nadia Eghbal (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/nadia)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guests: Ashley Williams and Tracy Hinds.
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GuestYo YehudiPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesIn this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer is joined by Yo Yehudi, Executive Director of Open Life Science (OLS), who discusses the importance of sustaining open source and scientific research. They cover topics such as the transition of OLS from a life sciences focus to all sciences, the importance of sharing scientific work openly, and strategies for building inclusive and sustainable communities within open source projects. Yo also touches on the challenges of funding and supporting volunteer-driven initiatives, their approach to managing volunteer contributions, and insights from their doctoral research on open source project sustainability. Hit download now to hear more! [00:02:19] Yo describes OLS as an organization helping scientists to share their work globally, addressing the common issue of data loss when scientists leave academia without sharing their work.[00:02:56] The conversation explores how OLS has expanded to include all sciences, not just life sciences, and even fields outside of traditional scientific disciplines. [00:03:46] Yo critiques the traditional methods of scientific communication, highlighting the importance of sharing code and computational methods alongside traditional manuscripts. [00:05:55] Richard and Yo discuss the inclusive definition of a scientist, emphasizing curiosity and rigor over formal educational credentials. [00:07:28] There’s a discussion on OLS’s operational scope and strategic focus to prevent “scope creep,” emphasizing training, mentoring, and incubation projects. [00:09:57] Yo details the team size and funding strategy of OLS, mentioning how they transitioned from a volunteer-based to a funded organization. [00:00:00] Richard discusses the challenge of differentiating OLS for funding in a competitive space filled with similar organizations. Yo explains that OLS views similar organizations not as competitors but as potential collaborators, striving to differentiate by working together and clearly defining each other’s unique roles. [00:16:20] There’s a discussion on volunteer contributions and avoiding exploitation.[00:17:49] Richard and Yo discuss the challenges of altering the mindset around volunteer compensation and ensuring that project contributions are recognized and supported financially. Yo explains how OLS had adapted its approach to offering support, ensuring it meets diverse needs efficiently. [00:20:44] The conversation shifts to how OLS assists open source practitioners in publishing their work and code effectively, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and thoughtful sharing practices. [00:22:34] Yo highlights changes in OLS’s teachings, particularly focusing on equity and the experience of marginalized individuals in open source communities and talks about open access publishing.[00:25:13] Yo acknowledges that using platforms like GitHub and arXiv could be viable options for sharing scientific work, providing it’s done responsibly, respecting privacy, and not including sensitive data. [00:26:12] Richard draws a parallel between the challenges faced by scientists needing traditional publication credentials and open source contributors needing recognition for their contributions outside mainstream channels. Yo shares their personal stance on working within the capitalist system to bring about change. [00:28:45] Yo details their doctoral study focused on the longevity of open source projects, noting their findings that the metrics used did not predict project sustainability as expected. [00:32:23] Yo announces their recent successful defense of their doctoral thesis, emphasizing the importance of practical and community-focused approaches in open source projects. [00:33:36] Find out where you can learn more about Yo and their work online. Quotes[00:04:10] “Science is everything else we see.”[00:04:20] “Science uses a lot of code to create outputs, to visualize the work they’re doing, to understand things….code and computations come into science in so many different ways.”[00:18:53] “We had a very low uptake, which was surprising, and then we changed the way we asked people to ask for money, and we had more [people ask for funds].”[00:27:50] “The fact that open source really was founded pragmatically as a way to exploit free labor makes me uncomfortable.”[00:33:14] “Make sure you have functional friendly humans.”Spotlight[00:34:22] Richard’s spotlight is the book, _Joseph Banks: A Life _by Patrick O’Brian.[00:35:12] Yo’s spotlight is InterMine.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Yo Yehudi Website (https://yo-yehudi.com/)Yo Yehudi LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoyehudi/)Open Life Science (OLS) (https://openlifesci.org/)Sustain Podcast with host Abigail Cabunoc Mayes (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/hosts/mayes)Mozilla (https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/) [Joseph Banks: A life by Patrick O’Brian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JosephBanks:ALife)_InterMine (http://intermine.org/)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Yo Yehudi.
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Guest
Deb Goodkin
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
This episode of Sustain features host Richard Littauer having a conversation with guest Deb Goodkin, the Executive Director of the FreeBSD Foundation. They discuss the history, development, and distinct characteristics of FreeBSD as an operating system independent from Linux, and the foundational support provided by the FreeBSD Foundation. The conversation delves into the organization’s efforts in software development, security, community engagement, and plans to increase diversity. They also highlight the celebration of FreeBSD Day and Deb’s passion for maintaining and promoting FreeBSD. Press download now to hear more!
[00:00:55] Deb explains her role and clarifies that FreeBSD is an independent operating system, originally derived from Unix developed at Bell Labs.
[00:02:27] Richard mentions “BSD” stands for “Berkeley Software Distribution.” Deb confirms the existence of the BSD license and its relevance.
[00:03:27] Deb admits it’s challenging to determine the number of FreeBSD users due to the nature of the BSD license but estimates hundreds of thousands based on device usage.
[00:04:08] Deb distinguishes the FreeBSD Foundation from the FreeBSD Project, explaining the foundation’s role in supporting the project and the community through funding, development, and advocacy.
[00:06:47] Deb compares the FreeBSD Foundation to other foundations like the GNOME Foundation and the Linux Foundation, emphasizing FreeBSD’s focus on software development and community support.
[00:08:15] Deb reveals most of the foundation’s funding comes from corporate sponsors. She highlights the foundation’s increasing focus on security in response to global standards and government guidelines, mentioning FreeBSD’s involvement in security research and development.
[00:12:45] There’s a discussion on the foundation’s approach to policy and standards, noting the limited resources but emphasizing the importance of corporate and community input in deciding priorities and projects.
[00:15:52] Richard questions Deb about feedback mechanisms used to gauge the FreeBSD community’s concerns about security. He wonders about the participation dynamics. Deb details the communication channels within the FreeBSD community, mentions a recent community survey and what the responses revealed, and explains the 1% negative feedback.
[00:19:56] The conversation shifts towards diversity and inclusion within FreeBSD, questioning the foundation’s strategies to enhance geographical and demographic diversity. Deb discusses the foundation’s efforts to increase gender diversity, mentioning initiatives targeting women, especially through involvement in computing events and universities.
[00:24:05] Richard inquires about the prevalence of women in executive roles within open source foundations, sparking a conversation on gender dynamics in leadership and the intense dedication required in these roles. Deb shares her admiration for the passion and intelligence within the FreeBSD community and emphasizes the foundation’s commitment to supporting the project and its people.
[00:26:51] Why is Deb so passionate about FreeBSD? She reflects on her deep connection with the community, her continuous learning in the field, and her desire to see the project thrive long-term.
[00:29:06] Richard acknowledges the upcoming FreeBSD Day, and Deb shares how it showcases the uses of FreeBSD with a week of activities.
[00:31:26] Find out here you can learn more about FreeBSD and Deb’s work online.
{00:33:34] Richard asks about the FreeBSD logo, confused by the demon mascot. Deb clarifies that the mascot, named Beastie, is a playful representation related to the UNIX’s background processes (daemons) and not an actual logo.
Spotlight
[00:35:34] Richard’s spotlight is Philip Pullman’s Trilogy book series.
[00:36:12] Deb’s spotlight is Michael Lucas’s book, Absolute FreeBSD.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Deb Goodkin X/Twitter (https://x.com/dgoodkin?lang=en)
Deb Goodkin LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deb-goodkin-b282924a/)
FreeBSD Foundation (https://freebsdfoundation.org/)
2024 FreeBSD Community Survey is Here-FreeBSD Foundation (https://freebsdfoundation.org/blog/2024-freebsd-community-survey-is-here/)
FreeBSD Foundation YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@freebsdfoundation2324)
The FreeBSD Project (https://www.freebsd.org/)
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials)
Absolute FreeBSD by Michael W. Lucas (no starch press) (https://nostarch.com/absfreebsd3)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Deb Goodkin. -
Guest
Julia Evans
Panelists
Richard Littauer | Amanda Casari
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer and co-host Amanda Casari talk to Julia Evans, a zine artist and programmer from Montreal. The discussion delves into Julia's journey in creating educational zines about technical topics like strace, Bash, and Git. Julia shares insights into her unique approach to making complex tools more accessible, how she uses feedback and beta readers to refine her work, and the importance of writing about stable technologies. The episode also touches on Julia's balance between art and sustainability, her collaborative work with her team, and highlights the significance of community-driven knowledge sharing. Press download to hear much more!
[00:01:44] Julia explains her approach to creating zines, starting with the desire to simplify the usage of complex tools like strace.
[00:03:14] Julia discusses her background as a programmer and the thematic focus of her zines, including making technical topics like Bash scripting more approachable.
[00:04:54] Amanda praises Julia’s method of demystifying technical concepts through zines. Julia shares the challenges of creating zines on complex topics like Git, discussing how user feedback helps refine content.
[00:07:14] Julia details the iterative process of creating zines, including using beta readers and feedback tools to enhance the clarity and usefulness of her guides.
[00:11:50] The discussion shifts to how Julia selects topics for her zines, focusing on technologies with strong backward compatibility guarantees, ensuring that the content remains relevant and accurate over time.
[00:15:59] Richard questions Julia about her preference for creating zines over other formats like video tutorials or classes, despite the potential reach and educational impact of those mediums. She explains her preference for zines, highlighting her affinity for print and writing, and he challenge with video formats.
[00:19:13] Julia discusses her transformative experience at the Recurse Center, which greatly enhanced her understanding of computer systems, inspiring her to help others feel like “wizards” who fully grasp their tools.
[00:21:39] Julia mentions co-founding “bang bang con,” a conference focused on short, insightful talks about programming, and confirms the availability of these talks online.
[00:22:46] Richard asks Julia about “weird stuff” she likes to do with computers. She describes creating a DNS server that open shares queries, reflecting her passion for making the invisible aspects of computing visible.
[00:24:43] Julia reveals how she funds her zine-making and educational endeavors through sales, which has allowed her to focus full-time on this work and even hire help to manage operations, enhancing sustainability and enjoyment of her work.
[00:26:05] Julia reflects on the unpredictability of her success, expressing hesitation to offer advice on replicating her business model due to its unconventional nature.
[00:27:47] Julia shares her approach to team building and sustainability, focusing on treating and paying her collaborators well to endure ongoing successful partnerships.
[00:28:44] Find out where you can purchase Julia’s zines and find her online.
Quotes
[00:02:19] “I would have all these questions, what are people using this tool for?”
[00:02:45] “I wanted to show people that this is not that big of a deal.”
[00:06:26] “This is what I wish someone told me when I started using this tool.”
[00:17:08] “I don’t usually want to learn a book’s worth of information about a topic. I’m a generalist.”
[00:17:40] “My dream when learning about something is I just want to talk to someone who’s really, really smart for two hours and they’ll tell me everything I need to know.”
[00:21:11] “You can do weird stuff!”
[00:24:07] “I just thought it would be cool to make it, so I did.”
[00:26:34] “Once I saw that I was working, I started to ask, is it sustainable? What do I need to learn about marketing to make it a sustainable business?”
[00:28:29] “I try to be the last client to get fired. That’s my dream.”
Spotlight
[00:29:43] Amanda’s spotlight is she finally got to attend csv,conf,v8.
[00:30:40] Richard’s spotlight is Rafik Draoui.
[00:31:26] Julia’s spotlight is Atuin, a really nice way to search your shell history.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Amanda Casari X/Twitter (https://x.com/amcasari?lang=en)
Julia Evans Blog (https://jvns.ca/)
Julia Evans Mastodon (https://social.jvns.ca/@b0rk)
Julia Evans X/Twitter (https://x.com/b0rk)
Julia Evans GitHub (https://github.com/jvns)
strace (https://strace.io/)
Write Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick (https://writeusefulbooks.com/)
Space Jam (https://www.spacejam.com/1996/jam.html)
Recurse Center (https://www.recurse.com/)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 146: Anjana Vakil on the Recurse Center, Outreachy, and Learning to Code (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/146)
!!Con 2024 (bang bang con) (https://bangbangcon.com/)
Gazouilli by Rafik Draoui (https://github.com/rafikdraoui/gazouilli)
Wizard Zines (https://wizardzines.com/)
Wizard Zine on strace (https://wizardzines.com/zines/strace/)
New zine: How Git Works! by Julia Evans (https://jvns.ca/blog/2024/04/25/new-zine--how-git-works-/)
Mess with dns (https://messwithdns.net/)
Csv,conf,v8 (https://csvconf.com/)
Rafik Draoui GitHub (https://github.com/rafikdraoui)
Atuin (https://github.com/atuinsh/atuin)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Julia Evans. -
Guest
Max Jones
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this first ever cross-over episode of Sustain and Open Source for Climate, host Richard welcomes guest Max Jones, a data scientist and open source software developer who works at Carbon Plan. Max discusses the importance of open source in bringing about effective climate action, the role of Carbon Plan in building accessible data products and tools, and how being a nonprofit is advantageous for open source development. The conversation also touches on funding models for open source projects in nonprofits, including support from individual donors, grants, and collaboration with governmental and private entities like NASA and Microsoft. Additionally, Max shares insights into the development of tools for better visualization of climate data, the impact of open source on climate action, and the challenges of ensuring software and data accessibility and reproducibility. Press download now to hear more!
[00:02:50] Richard outlines Max’s background in open source software development focused on climate action, including his leadership role at Carbon Plan.
[00:03:31] Max discusses the mission of Carbon Plan, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accessibility in climate solutions.
[00:04:23] Max describes his role in leading open source initiatives at Carbon Plan.
[00:03:23] The conversation shifts to the practical aspects of running a non-profit focused on open source projects, including funding mechanisms such as grants from NASA.
[00:06:58] Max explains one of their projects that involve tools for visualizing large-scale climate data to assist cities in planning and decision-making. He mentions how these tools are designed to be accessible to both scientists and the general public.
[00:08:13] There’s a discussion about community engagement with their tools, noting that while many people reach out with questions or feature requests, there have been few contributions in terms of pull requests.
[00:08:53] Max reflects on a collaboration with the Washington Post using their tools to inform public understanding of climate projections.
[00:10:37] Max discusses the broader use of the tools by various agencies and the importance of transparency for reproducibility in research.
[00:11:24] Max emphasizes the importance of reproducibility in open source projects across academia, industry, and the non-profit sector, and he acknowledges the challenges in ensuring that external users can engage with and reproduce their computational workflows.
[00:12:56] The conversation shares insights into building a community around open source projects, particularly through involvement with the Pangeo project, which supports reproducibility and scalability in earth science workflows.
[00:14:08] Max talks about the importance of finding common needs across different fields to promote broader collaboration and integration and mentions the Zarr project.
[00:15:51] We hear about the size of the team at Carbon Plan which includes various roles.
[00:16:28] Richard inquires about the funding landscape for open source projects at Carbon Plan. Max mentions the initial funding received through collaborations with NASA and Microsoft. He emphasizes the importance of ongoing government and agency support for both new tools and the maintenance of existing software.
[00:17:51] Max talks about contributing back to open source communities, highlighting the practice of reporting bugs and engaging with upstream dependencies to improve tools.
[00:18:38] The necessity of open source for transparency in climate solutions is discussed, contrasting with closed source companies that sell proprietary products to governments. Max argues for the importance of open source in ensuring accountability and better outcomes in climate solutions.
[00:20:07] Max discusses the broader aspects of open resources, such as leveraging open standards, data, and hardware. He mentions collaborating with other organizations to tackle scalable computing challenges.
[00:21:18] The conversation shifts to the environmental impact of computational work, with Max acknowledging the need for more efficient workflows and the broader implications of their organization’s focus, which includes understanding and adapting to climate change impacts.
[00:24:15] Richard and Max discuss the challenges of making data sets public in a market-driven environment. Max emphasizes the role of nonprofits in pushing for greater transparency and the potential impact of their work on broader technological practices.
[00:26:09] Finally, Max highlights a new project called OffsetsDB, and tell us where you can follow him and his work online.
Quotes
[00:03:44] “We believe that it’s necessary to have transparency and accessibility in our research, data, and tools in order to accomplish the mission.”
[00:06:17] “I don’t think we can have great climate solutions unless they’re open and accessible, especially to the communities that are most impacted by these problems.”
[00:11:47] “I would love to see more emphasis on reproducibility outside of academia as we push towards a more transparent model.”
Spotlight
[00:27:42] Richard’s spotlight is an article he read and liked, “The Brazilian Special-Forces Unit Fighting to Save The Amazon.”
[00:28:07] Max’s spotlight is an open access perspectives article called, “The Origins of the Generic Mapping Tools: From Table Tennis to Geoscience.”
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustainoss/)
Sustain OSS BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/sustainoss.bsky.social)
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Max Jones GitHub (https://github.com/maxrjones)
Carbon Plan GitHub (https://github.com/carbonplan)
Carbon Plan (https://carbonplan.org/)
Pangeo (https://pangeo.io/)
Zarr (https://zarr.dev/)
OffsetsDB (https://carbonplan.org/research/offsets-db)
“The Brazilian Special-Forces Unit Fighting To Save The Amazon” (The New Yorker) (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/04/08/the-brazilian-special-forces-unit-fighting-to-save-the-amazon)
“The Origins of the Generic Mapping Tools: From Table Tennis to Geoscience” by Paul Wessel (https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2023CN000231)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Max Jones. -
Guests
Eva Maxfield Brown | Boris Veytsman
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer engages with guests Eva Maxfield Brown and Boris Veytsman to explore their co-authored paper, "Biomedical Open Source Software: Crucial Packages and Hidden Heroes." The paper focuses on identifying crucial but often overlooked software dependencies in biomedical research. The discussions delve into how the study used data from two million papers to map these dependencies, revealing both well-supported and undermaintained software components vital to scientific research. There’s a conversation on the methodological challenges and the concept of "Nebraska packages," which are essential yet potentially undermaintained elements crucial to the software stack used in both industry and science. The conversation also covers broader implications for software sustainability, security, and future research directions, including improving how software contributions are tracked and recognized within scientific careers. Press download now to hear more!
[00:01:47] Richard dives into the paper co-authored by Eva and Boris. Boris explains the origins of the paper, starting from a workshop at CZI aimed at accelerating science through sustainable software, leading to the analysis of software used in biomedical research. He highlights the focus on identifying crucial yet often unmentioned software dependencies in research software, which he labels as “unsung heroes.”
[00:05:22] Boris provides findings from their study, noting that while many foundational packages were cited, there are significant packages that, despite their critical role, remain uncited.
[00:06:43] Eva discusses the concept of “Nebraska packages,” which are essential yet potentially undermaintained components that are crucial to the software stack used in both industry and science. Also, she elaborates on the methodological challenges of determining which packages to include in their analysis, particularly in terms of dependencies that vary between different users and contexts.
[00:09:42] Richard reflects on the broader implications of their discussion for the open source community, particularly in terms of software sustainability and security. Eva emphasizes the importance of security across all fields and discusses the potential impact of software bugs on scientific research and the need for robust software infrastructure.
[00:12:04] Boris comments on the necessity of well-tested tools in the scientific community, given that many scientists may lack a strong background in software development and training.
[00:13:47] Richard quotes from the paper discussing the absence of cycles in the network of software packages used in science, indicating a more robust design compared to general software. He questions this in light of earlier comments about scientists not being great at coding.
[00:14:08] Eva explains that the paper’s findings about acyclic dependencies (DAGs) might seem surprising given the common perception that scientific software is poorly developed. She notes that while scientists may not be trained in proper software packaging, the Python environment helps prevent cyclic dependencies.
[00:17:31] Richard brings up “Katz centrality” which is discussed in the paper, and Boris clarifies that “Katz centrality” refers to a concept by Leo Katz on network centrality, explaining how it helps determine the importance of nodes within a network.
[00:20:13] Richard questions the practical applications of the research findings, probing for advice on supporting crucial but underrecognized dependencies within software ecosystems. Eva addresses future research directions, including improving ecosystem matching algorithms for better accuracy in linking software mentions to the correct ecosystems.
[00:22:50] Eva suggests expanding the research to cover more domains beyond biomedicine, considering different software needs across various scientific disciplines. Boris discusses the potential for targeted interventions to support underrecognized contributors in the scientific software community aiming to enhance their prestige.
[00:27:22] Richard asks how the research team plans to map dependencies to individual contributors and track their motivations. Boris responds that while they have gathered substantial data from sources like GitHub logs, publishing this information poses ethical challenges due to privacy concerns.
[00:28:45] Eva discusses her work on linking GitHub profiles to academic authors using ORCID identifiers to better track contributions to scientific software.
[00:31:42] Richard brings up the broader impacts of their research, questioning whether their study on software packages centrality within the scientific community is unique or if there are similar studies at this scale. Eva acknowledges the need for more comprehensive studies and cites a previous study from 2015 that analyzed developer networks on GitHub. Boris adds that while there is extensive literature on scientific citation networks, the study of dependencies is less explored.
[00:34:38] Find out where you can follow Boris and Eva’s work and social medias online.
Spotlight
[00:37:06] Richard’s spotlight is Deirdre Madeleine Smith.
[00:37:29] Eva’s spotlight is Talley Lambert.
[00:38:02] Boris’s spotlight is the CZI Collaborators.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Eva Maxfield Brown X/Twitter (https://x.com/evamaxfieldb)
Eva Maxfield Brown Website (https://evamaxfield.github.io/)
Eva Maxfield Brown GitHub (https://github.com/evamaxfield)
Boris Veytsman X/Twitter (https://x.com/BorisVeytsman?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
Boris Veytsman Mastodon (https://sfba.social/@borisveytsman)
Boris Veytsman LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-veytsman-50a1162/)
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CTI) (https://chanzuckerberg.com/)
“Biomedical Open Source Software : Crucial Packages and Hidden Heroes” (arXiv) (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.06672)
“A large dataset of software mentions in the biomedical literature” (arXiv) (https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.00693)
xkcd Dependency comic 2347 (https://xkcd.com/2347/)
Dataset Artefacts are the Hidden Drivers of the Declining Disruptiveness in Science (arXiv) (https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.14583)
Directed acyclic graph (DAG) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directed_acyclic_graph)
Katz centrality (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katz_centrality)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 136: Daniel S. Katz on The Research Software Alliance (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/katz)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 159: Dawn Foster & Andrew Nesbitt at State of Open Con 2023 (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/nesbitt)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 218: Karthik Ram & James Howison on Research Software Visibility Infrastructure Priorities (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/james-howison)
ORCID (https://orcid.org/)
Mapping the Impact of Research Software in Science- A CZI Hackathon (https://github.com/chanzuckerberg/software-impact-hackathon-2023)
Deirdre Smith Academia (https://pitt.academia.edu/DeirdreSmith)
Talley Lambert GitHub (https://github.com/tlambert03)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guests: Boris Veytsman and Eva Maxfield Brown. -
GuestEmmy TsangPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesIn this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer welcomes Emmy Tsang, the Engagement Lead at Invest in Open Infrastructure (IOI). Emmy introduces the mission of IOI, which focuses on increasing investment in and adoption of open infrastructure to promote equitable access and participation in research. The discussion delves into what constitutes 'open infrastructure,' the need for nuanced definitions, and IOI's efforts in providing evidence-based tools, strategic support, and funding pilots within the space. Emmy also highlights IOI's inaugural 'State of Open Infrastructure 2024' report, set to serve as an annual resource for understanding the open infrastructure landscape. They discuss the report's contents, including analysis of funding, governance trends, and policies affecting open infrastructure, and Emmy invites feedback from the community to improve future iterations of the report. Press download to hear more![00:01:04] Emmy explains IOI and how it provides tools and recommendations, strategic support, and runs funding pilots. [00:02:14] There’s a discussion on the growth of the IOI team and the importance of a global perspective, as well as an explanation of IOI’s funding and fiscal sponsorship by Code for Science and Society. [00:03:47] Emmy explains open infrastructure as a spectrum and the importance of context and mentions the five criteria for defining open infrastructure. [00:07:37] Richard asks Emmy for clarification on the definition of infrastructure on the context of open infrastructure. She tells us a broader definition as services and technologies relied upon by researchers and scholars and gives an example.[00:10:34] Richard questions how IOI integrates community feedback into their work. Emmy explains IOI’s privileged position to consider open infrastructure at an ecosystem level, mentions the Infra Finder tool for open infrastructure discovery, and her role as an engagement person. She also mentions shifting power in funding decisions and increasing accessibility of funding to low and middle-income economies.[00:15:32] The “State of Open Infrastructure 2024” report will launch on May 28th. Emmy discusses the topics covered in the report, explains how they used their Infra Finder tool, and the data from the report will be shared openly via Zenodo. [00:19:38] Richard appreciates the scope and ambition of the report and wonders about the primary audience of the report and its relevance to open source maintainers. We learn the report is targeted at funders, but also relevant to maintainers and developers of open infrastructures. [00:25:16] Emmy responds on how they reach out to potential infrastructures and encourage storytelling through their work and engagement. She explains the unique perspective IOI brings to the concept of infrastructure and emphasizes the importance of defining success and sustainability for open infrastructure. Also, she mentions the “Graceful Transitions” section in the report, highlighting organizational changes in infrastructures. [00:30:18] Richard agrees on the need for personal and emotional discussions about transitions in open source projects. Emmy invites listeners to participate in community conversations about the report’s chapters and shares details on the upcoming community conversations and how to join the mailing list for updates.[00:32:40] Find out where you can read the report and follow Emmy on the interwebs.Quotes[00:04:14 ] “We find it easy to put open into really clear binaries, you’re open or not open, etc, etc.”[00:04:43] “Most of the time these binaries don’t really make sense.”[00:06:29] “We’re viewing open infrastructure more as a spectrum.”[00:26:42] “What does success and sustainability mean for open infrastructure?”Spotlight[00:34:24] Richard’s spotlight is the book, The (Big)Year That Flew By by Arjan Dwarshuis[00:35:10] Emmy’s spotlight is the Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/sustainoss.bsky.social)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Richard Littauer email (mailto:[email protected])Richard Littauer SustainOSS email (mailto:[email protected])Emmy Tsang X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/emmy_ft)Emmy Tsang Mastodon (https://mastodon.cloud/@emmyft)Emmy Tsang LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmy-tsang-11aa793b/)Sustain Podcast-Episode 43: Investing in Open Infrastructure with Kaitlin Thaney (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/kaitlin-thaney)Invest in Open Infrastructure (https://investinopen.org/)Code for Science & Society (https://www.codeforsociety.org/)ggplot2 (https://ggplot2.tidyverse.org/)The Astropy Project (https://www.astropy.org/)Roads and Bridges: The Unseen Labor Behind Our Digital Infrastructure (https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/learning/research-reports/roads-and-bridges-the-unseen-labor-behind-our-digital-infrastructure/) Infra Finder (https://infrafinder.investinopen.org/solutions)Call for proposals: Open Infrastructure Fund by Emmy Tsang (https://investinopen.org/blog/open-infrastructure-fund-pilot-cfp/)2024 State of Open Infrastructure Report (https://investinopen.org/state-of-open-infrastructure-2024/sooi-foreword-2024/)Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/)Arjan Dwarshuis (https://arjandwarshuis.com/about) Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund (https://infrastructureinsights.fund/)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Emmy Tsang.
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GuestSimon VansintjanPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesIn this episode, host Richard Littauer and guest Simon Vansintjan dive into the topic of open-source sustainability in the music industry. Simon, a long-time friend of Richard and a seasoned coder and designer, introduces Mirlo, an innovative online platform he's working on that combines elements of Bandcamp and Patreon to enable direct financial support for musicians. Mirlo, an open-source project built with a full-stack TypeScript, Express, Redis, Postgres, and React, aims to provide an alternative to traditional music streaming services by focusing on direct artist support and community engagement. Simon discusses the challenges and benefits of building Mirlo as a cooperative, the intricacies of its development and funding model, and the broader implications of open-source principles in creating a more equitable and sustainable ecosystem for musicians. Hit download now to hear more! [00:01:38] What is Mirlo? Simon explains it’s an online record store where users can buy digital music directly from musicians and provide monthly support, similar to a combination of Bandcamp and Patreon. [00:02:32] Simon discusses Mirlo’s open source status and its tech stack, which includes TypeScript/JavaScript, Express, Redis, Postgres, and React. [00:03:13] Richard inquires about the origins of Mirlo, and Simon describes his work with Resonate, issues with legacy code, and the decision to create Mirlo to explore sustainable business models without venture capital.[00:04:16] We hear that Spotify isn’t profitable as Simon discusses the challenges streaming service face, which led Mirlo to adopt a different model. [00:05:04] Simon explains Mirlo’s co-op structure, focusing on worker empowerment and non-hierarchical decision-making, contrasting it with Resonate’s multi-stakeholder co-op model. [00:08:57] Richard asks about Mirlo’s sustainability model. Simon describes Mirlo’s revenue model, which includes taking a small cut from each sale, user contributions that cover server costs, and plans for grants and a Kickstarter campaign. [00:10:23] Simon explains the complexities of starting as a nonprofit and the decision to form an LLC for greater flexibility. [00:11:03] Richard questions the distinction between artists and worker owners. Simon discusses the different models for including musicians as co-owners, ongoing experimentation with the co-op structure, and the importance of recognizing musicians’ contributions to Mirlo.[00:13:07] The conversation turns to contributors to the GitHub codebase, and Richard mentions a couple of contributors and wonders if they have equal shares as worker owners. Simon explains that neither contributor is a worker owner, and he talks about the challenges in tracking contributions for co-ownership.[00:16:28] Simon highlights the slow process of building trust and the challenges posed by financial constraints, emphasizing the need for time and money. [00:18:29] Richard shifts focus to the codebase and notes the absence of contributing docs, asking about the onboarding process for new contributors. Simon explains their use of a Discord server for feedback and onboarding. [00:20:18] Richard questions the benefits of being open source for Mirlo, and Simon emphasizes all the significant benefits of being open source.[00:21:30] Mirlo’s competitive space is brought up and Simon acknowledges the moral aspect and mentions Mirlo’s near feature parity with Bandcamp, excluding merch and label support. He explains the Mirlo isn’t necessarily trying to compete directly with major platforms but aims to create a diverse, open, and transparent internet space. [00:23:52] Simon explains the Kickstarter rewards, including a compilation album and merch, and when it ends. [00:25:31] Richard praises Mirlo’s intentional cooperative approach and its efforts to maintain and grow the platform sustainably and Simon encourages listeners to go check out Mirlo, mentioning he has purchased music from the platform. [00:26:19] Find out where you can follow Simon online.Quotes[00:16:46] “A lot of [this project] is built on trust. It takes a long time to build trust with people.”[00:20:25] “The code is much better for [being open source].”[00:21:06] “Being open source generates trust.”[00:22:05] “We’re noticing that people care about it being a co-op, and that people care about it being open source.”Spotlight[00:27:12] Richard’s spotlight is Ryo Fukui, a Japanese jazz pianist. [00:27:48] Simon’s spotlight is the book, “Noise Uprising: The Audiopolitics of a World Musical Revolution.”LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/sustainoss.bsky.social)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Simon Vansintjan Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@[email protected])Sustain-Episode 129:Per Ploug and the Spotify FOSS Fund (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/129)Resonate (https://resonate.coop/)Mirlo (https://mirlo.space/)Mirlo Kickstarter: Musicians as worker-owners in co-operatives (https://mirlo.space/team/posts/26/)Ryo Fukui (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryo_Fukui)Scenery (Ryo Fukui album) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenery_(Ryo_Fukui_album)) Noise Uprising: The Audiopolitics of a World Musical Revolution by Michael Denning (https://www.versobooks.com/products/83-noise-uprising)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Simon Vansintjan.
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Guest
Dr. Carlotta A. Berry
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode, host Richard Littauer engages in a conversation with Dr. Carlotta Berry, a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM. Carlotta shares her journey from an undergraduate student rarely seeing diversity in her field to becoming an engineering professor determined to change that narrative. She discusses her work at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, emphasizing the importance of making STEM accessible and exciting for all, especially girls and underrepresented minorities. She also dives into her motivations behind founding two nonprofits, Black in Engineering and Black in Robotics, highlighting their roles during the racial reckoning and the importance of maintaining momentum in diversity efforts amidst societal backlashes. Additionally, Carlotta touches upon her engagement with open source communities, particularly in robotics, to further democratize STEM education. The discussion also covers her unique approaches to connecting with younger audiences through hip hop slam poetry on TikTok and the significance of representation in every aspect of STEM, from academia to community initiatives. Press download now to hear more!
[00:01:05] Carlotta tells us about the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and describes it as one of the largest children’s museums in the world, detailing its features and her role there in STEM and robotics activities.
[00:02:00] Richard comments on Carlotta’s extensive education and asks about her journey from PHD to her current position. She explains her motivation for pursuing a PhD was to become an engineering professor and to represent diversity in the field.
[00:02:59] Carlotta recounts that her PhD experience was relatively smooth compared to her undergrad challenges, highlighting the focus on subjects she loved.
[00:04:57] The conversation turns to Carlotta’s involvement with nonprofits, particularly ‘Black in Engineering’ and ‘Black in Robotics’, and she shares the origin of these groups. She talks about the purpose of ‘Black in Engineering’ and its relevance in the current political climate.
[00:08:26] Richard inquires how Carlotta stays motivated amid setbacks in civil rights progress. Carlotta cites the resilience of past civil rights leaders as inspiration and emphasizes the role of true allies.
[00:10:41] The discussion shifts to open source, and Carlotta outlines her work in STEM communication and her involvement with open source hardware through her robots, the ‘flower bots’. Also, she acknowledges she has built a community primarily through social media engagement.
[00:15:16] Carlotta explains Rose Bot’s origin, related to her school’s mascot, and its connection with various STEM outreach and education initiatives, such as Rosie, Lily, and Daisy bots. She celebrates the success of her program in increasing enrollment and diversity in computer science and software engineering, as well as her own department.
[00:17:50] Richard inquires about Carlotta’s day-to-day activities and how she manages everything. She clarifies she’s a workaholic with a high teaching lead at a teaching-focused school and does not balance well, yet she is passionate about her work, and she details her daily schedule.
[00:20:25] What is Carlotta’s mentoring approach for young women in STEM? She emphasizes honesty and support for her students, sharing her own struggles and the importance of community and resources to navigate the difficulties in engineering education.
[00:23:46] Richard asks Carlotta what changes she would suggest for the broader open source community to increase diversity and representation in STEM. Carlotta advises against working in silos, stressing the importance of education about open source, reaching beyond typical recruitment spaces, and creating diverse testing groups.
[00:26:35] Carlotta shares her strategy of code-switching and the importance of connecting with people and listening to them. She encourages students to pursue what is authentic to them and to avoid forcing themselves into careers they are not passionate about.
[00:29:21] Richard inquires about hip hop slam poetry, and Carlotta shares that she used hip hop slam poetry as a method to connect with younger audiences and teach them about STEM on TikTok.
[00:31:03] Carlotta talks about her books and describes her passion for romance novels and her decision to write black STEM romance novels to represent black women in science and engineering positively.
[00:33:19] How does Carlotta balance her mission with her personal aspirations? She explains her mission serves her internal validation, aiming to improve the STEM experience for black and female students and thus contributing to a more diverse and inclusive future.
[00:35:18] Find out where you can read more about Carlotta and her work.
Quotes
[00:09:57] “Yeah, and is that supposed to be a problem? So, I got my PhD because of affirmative action. Is that better than your Twitter scholarship? I say yes!”
Spotlight
[00:36:15] Richards’s spotlight is Corina Newsome.
[00:36:42] Carlotta’s spotlight is Dr. Brandeis Marshall.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Dr. Carlotta A. Berry X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/noiresteminist)
Dr. Carlotta A. Berry LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlotta-berry-phd/)
Dr. Carlotta A. Berry Website (https://www.noiresteminist.com/)
Dr. Carlotta A. Berry Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drcaberry)
Dr. Carlotta A. Berry TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@drcaberry)
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (https://www.childrensmuseum.org/)
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (https://www.rose-hulman.edu/)
Black in Engineering (https://blackinengineering.org/)
Black in Robotics (https://blackinrobotics.org/)
Corina Newsome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corina_Newsome)
Dr. Brandeis Marshall (https://www.brandeismarshall.com/)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Dr. Carlotta A. Berry. -
GuestSusan KennedyPanelistsRichard Littauer | Eriol FoxShow NotesIn this episode, hosts Richard Littauer and Eriol Fox chat with Susan Kennedy, a program manager at the Open Technology Fund (OTF), to explore the intricacies of sustaining open source technologies. OTF, a nonprofit organization, plays a vital role in promoting internet freedom in oppressive regimes by supporting the development of anti-censorship and anti-surveillance technologies. Funded by the U.S. Congress but operating independently, OTF aids in navigating the challenges attached to open source project sustainability and maintenance. Susan outlines OTF's fund mechanism, highlighting its commitment to supporting open source projects that are pivotal for internet freedom. Also, the episode shines a light on the newly initiated FOSS Sustainability Fund by OTF, designed to specifically address the financial and logistical hurdles facing open source technologies today. Press download to hear more! [00:01:41] Susan explains the OTF’s role as a non-profit promoting internet freedom through anti-censorship and anti-surveillance technologies, mainly funded by the U.S. government but operates independently. [00:02:37] There’s a comparison of OTF to Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund, emphasizing differences in funding despite both being government funded. [00:03:51] There’s a discussion on how OTF funds projects like Signal despite potential congressional controversies. [00:04:15] Susan introduces the FOSS Sustainability Fund aimed at supporting open source technologies for internet freedom. [00:06:15] Susan gives details on the scale of the FOSS Sustainability Fund, mentioning financial contributions from other private donors alongside U.S. government funds. [00:07:34] We find out the details of eligibility criteria for FOSS Sustainability Fund applicants, as Susan emphasizes projects with a track record and active community engagement. [00:09:00] Susan discusses the outcomes from the pilot funding round, focusing on the importance of community meetings and interaction. Also, she talks about exploration of sustainability as a lifecycle, including potential sunsetting of projects, emphasizing that sustainability might look different for each project. [00:13:17] Susan talks about exploration of sustainability as a lifecycle, including potential sunsetting of projects, emphasizing that sustainability might look different for each project. [00:15:19] Richard questions the approach of funding projects that are charismatic and grant-savvy, instead of focusing on lesser-known but critical projects, questioning the open application process. Susan defends the open application process of the Internet Freedom Fund, explaining it allows for a broader reach and inclusivity, ensuring opportunities for lesser-known projects to apply.[00:17:06] Richard asks if a small, unrelated project like ‘right pad’ used by major projects can apply, leading to a broader discussion on the relevance of small projects within significant tools. Susan responds by focusing on the end-users’ needs, emphasizing the importance of even small projects if they are critical to larger tools like Tails. [00:18:51] Susan highlights the two-phase application process designed to guide applicants efficiently, providing feedback and advice on project fit and impact, and she describes the iterative application process.[00:19:51] Eriol discusses the advisory aspect of OTF’s application process, noting the interaction and intention of their approach which aids applicants in refining their proposals. They raise concerns about projects using sustainability funds to tackle debt and asks how OTF views the alignment of tech debt resolution with user-centric sustainability. [00:21:34] Susan elaborates on distinguishing between tech debt and sustainability, advocating for a balanced approach that includes both technical fixes and enhancements in user engagement and governance. She stresses the importance of having user feedback mechanisms and long-term strategic planning as part of sustainable development, derived from consultations with funded projects. [00:23:36] We learn about OTF’s lab services, which support projects beyond funding, in areas like security, usability, design, and communication, enhancing the holistic support structure for open source sustainability. [00:26:44] Richard asks if there are expectations for funded projects to help guide their peers toward more sustainable practices. Susan explains that while OTF shares a list of alternate funding sources with applicants, the field remains underfunded, and stresses the importance of sharing learning publicly to help educate other funders and enhance funding efforts. [00:28:07] Richard questions if there are requirements for projects to support their dependencies or the broader ecosystem. Susan clarifies that while there’s no mandate for projects to fund their dependencies, OTF looks for projects that consider and support their dependencies as part of their roadmap. [00:28:31] What is Susan’s long-term vision for the fund? She wishes for significantly more funding to support a greater number of projects and hopes for netter coordination among funders and an increased focus on essential aspects of sustainability. [00:29:32] Find out where you can learn more about Susan and the OTF online.Quotes[00:04:35] “Since OTF started back in 2012, we have only supported open source technologies.”[00:08:04] “We’re looking to maintain and sustain.”Spotlight[00:31:56] Richard’s spotlight is Naulakha (Rudyard Kipling House) in Vermont.[00:32:27] Eriol’s spotlight is talking to Code for Japan folks and their podcast called “Chit-Chat Code Civictech Insights.” [00:33:36] Susan’s spotlight is thinking deeply about FOSS Sustainability after reading IDE’s, ‘Roadwork ahead: Evaluating the needs of FOSS communities working on digital infrastructure in the public interest.’LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Eriol Fox X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/EriolDoesDesign?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)Susan Kennedy LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-mary-kennedy/)Susan Kennedy email (mailto:[email protected])Open Technology Fund (https://www.opentech.fund/)Open Technology Fund X/Twitter (https://www.opentech.fund/)Open Technology Funds (https://www.opentech.fund/funds/) Free and Open Source Software Sustainability Fund (https://www.opentech.fund/funds/free-and-open-source-software-sustainability-fund/)Introducing the FOSS Sustainability Fund Pilot Projects (OTF) (https://www.opentech.fund/news/introducing-the-foss-sustainability-fund-pilot-projects/)Naulakha (Rudyard Kipling House) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naulakha_(Rudyard_Kipling_House))Chit-Chat Code Civictech Insights Podcast (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chitchatcode)‘Roadwork ahead: Evaluating the needs of FOSS communities working on digital infrastructure in the public interest.’ (https://recommendations.implicit-development.org/)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Susan Kennedy.
-
Guest
Velda Kiara
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
Today, host Richard has a conversation with guest Velda Kiara, a passionate open source developer. Velda discusses how open source has helped businesses, how it benefits both coders and non-coders, and how it can lead to career growth. She also talks about the challenges of open source, particularly in terms of finances and the sustainability of projects. The discussion also turns to Velda’s attendance at OSCA fest in Lagos, Nigeria, and her involvement with Black Python Devs. Velda shares her personal journey of contributing to Django and other Python projects and tells us about her experience joining programs like Djangonaut Space and contributing to projects like Novu. Press download now to hear more!
[00:00:10] The episode opens with Velda highlighting the ins and outs of open source, acknowledging that it allows for the use of software that businesses can monetize. She appreciates the good that comes from open source despite the criticism of some corporations. She acknowledges the pros and cons of open source, expressing hope that the pros will eventually outweigh the cons.
[00:02:21] Richard introduces Velda and praises her answer and asks if she’d like to change her initial statement. Velda stands by her answer, expressing willingness to continue the discussion for further insights on open source.
[00:03:31] Velda confirms her attendance at OSCA fest, mentioning he talk on building APIs with Django, DRF, and Open API, and discusses the importance of sustainability in growing the open source community in Africa.
[00:04:34] Richard inquires about Velda’s involvement with Black Panther Devs, and she explains the inception, its objectives, and activities like workshops and meetups that support the community.
[00:07:12] The conversation shifts to encouraging newcomers to join open source, emphasizing roles beyond coding, such as project management and writing.
[00:09:08] Richard and Velda discuss the challenges designers face in open source and the potential career benefits of contributing to open source, even for non-developers. Velda shares how open source helped her gain experience and improve skills, which is beneficial at any career level, and she discusses the “level up” aspect of open source and the learning opportunities it provides.
[00:12:00] Richard explores into the sustainability of open source for late-stage careers and the challenges maintainers face. Velda suggests using open source for mentorship and ensuring project continuity by engaging contributors and sharing maintenance responsibilities.
[00:14:02] What currently excites Velda about open source? She expresses her excitement about contributing to Django after building many websites with it and her positive experience at DjangoCon US, which she found to be an inclusive community. Also, she discusses Djangonaut Space, an eight-week program designed to assist new contributors like her in contributing to the Django framework or third-party packages.
[00:16:28] Velda mentions her contributions to other Python projects, such as Novu, and her new experiences working with SDKs. She reflects on the learning process in open source and shares her excitement for exploring various Python projects and talks about how she started a newsletter called, “The Storytellers by Tales.”
Quotes
[00:12:36] “If you eventually want to not let the project die, you could easily use open source as a way to mentor another person who’s going to help you maintain for a while if you want to retire or stop writing code in general.”
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Velda Kiara X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/VeldaKiara)
Velda Kiara LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/veldakiara/)
Velda Kiara Website (https://veldakiara.notion.site/veldakiara/Velda-Kiara-46aec24028fd4e8dbdba003097c18b5b)
Black Python Devs (https://blackpythondevs.github.io/)
KJay Miller (https://kjaymiller.com/)
Djangonaut Space (https://djangonaut.space/)
Novu (https://github.com/novuhq/novu)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 169: Dawn Wages of PSF on organizing communities, ethical licenses, and more (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/169)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Velda Kiara. -
Guest
Kari L. Jordan
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, host Richard welcomes guest Dr. Kari L. Jordan, the Executive Director of The Carpentries, to discuss the organization’s mission, challenges, and strategies for fostering an inclusive community that teaches data and coding skills. We explore topics like sustaining open source projects, the importance of teaching open source tools and practices, and how The Carpentries contribute to the ecosystem. The conversation dives into the funding strategies, volunteer engagement, accessibility, and the future goals of The Carpentries, including spreading skills in data science and coding across diverse linguistic and geographical communities. Also, we’ll touch on broader issues such as equity in tech and the potential avenues for increasing participation of underrepresented groups in open source and data science. Press download to hear more!
[00:02:03] Richard asks Kari about The Carpentries work, and she gives her elevator pitch, emphasizing their mission of teaching inclusive data and coding skills.
[00:03:23] Kari discusses how The Carpentries incorporates open source principles in teaching various aspects, including community management and code of conduct. Also, she outlines the adjacent communities to The Carpentries, mentioning rOpenSci and the Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement.
[00:05:15] Richard jokes about The Carpentries being well-funded, and Kari clarifies their actual funding sources and the crucial role of volunteers.
[00:07:15] Kari details how the nine paid staff of The Carpentries structure their work across curricula development, workshops and instruction, and community engagement.
[00:08:59] A question comes up about The Carpentries success metrics, and Kari speaks on their goal to build global capacity in essential data skills for informed decision-making.
[00:11:56] Discussing the ethical use of data, Kari explains The Carpentries alignment with the FAIR Principles to ensure data management is equitable and accessible.
[00:14:47] Kari highlights the importance of recognition and appreciation in open source contributions, and speaks about the diversity in forms of appreciation, from LinkedIn badges to DOIs for contributions, and the necessity of different incentives.
[00:17:34] Kari acknowledges the divide and discusses how individuals in The Carpentries often pick a focus, be it teaching or lesson development, though some do cross over between data and open source contributions.
[00:19:37] Richard probes into the potential contribution of ‘data people’ to the burnout of open source maintainers and whether they should also contribute to the maintenance. Kari agrees on the correlation but suggests it might be a confidence issues and emphasizes the need to educate these individuals on the importance of their contributions.
[00:21:12] Richard seeks a clearer definition of what constitutes a contribution within The Carpentries, and Kari responds by referring to their Code of Conduct which clarifies that contributions are welcome as long as they adhere to it.
[00:22:45] What is Kari’s long-term vision for The Carpentries? She envisions their lessons being taught in hundreds of languages and spreading their educational model without a reliance on strong internet connections and mentions currently having a multilingual open source glossary called Glosario.
[00:25:26] Kari talks about the hardest part of her job, which is that volunteer capacity and revenue generation are current organizational priorities.
[00:28:29] What would Kari focus on in open source if she wasn’t with The Carpentries? She expresses her desire to concentrate efforts on equity and inclusion, specifically increasing the involvement of people of color in open source within the U.S.
[00:31:20] Richard asks Kari what she’s really excited about for the future of The Carpentries. She shares her enthusiasm about potential strategic alliances with other organizations to share resources and thrive together, and the creation of resources for communities to run their own inclusive events.
[00:32:58] Find out where you can follow Kari online.
Quotes
[00:06:46] “We’ve supported workshops in over 64 countries, and it’s because of our volunteers.”
[00:09:31] “We know that decisions that impact our lives are made with data.”
[00:10:48] “Before I came on staff at The Carpentries, I had never heard of R, Python. I had never heard of GitHub, and I have a PhD.”
[00:16:07] “Appreciation is different depending on what’s important to you.”
Spotlight
[00:33:55] Richard’s spotlight is Nisha Ghatak, from NeSI, who ran two of The Carpentries workshops he attended in New Zealand.
[00:34:21] Kari’s spotlight is OpenRefine, a very powerful open source tool.
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)
Dr. Kari L. Jordan X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/drkariljordan)
Dr. Kari L. Jordan Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@drkariljordan)
Dr. Kari L. Jordan Website (https://kariljordan.com/)
Dr. Kari L. Jordan GitHub (https://github.com/kariljordan)
Dr. Kari L. Jordan LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kariljordan/)
The Carpentries (https://carpentries.org/index.html)
Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement (https://www.cscce.org/)
rOpenSci (https://ropensci.org/)
FAIR Principles (https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/)
The Nine Core Values of The Carpentries (https://carpentries.org/values/)
Glosario (https://glosario.carpentries.org/)
Nisha Ghatak-NeSI (https://www.nesi.org.nz/news/2024/01/nisha-ghatak-nesi-training-lead-elected-global-training-community-board-directors)
OpenRefine (https://openrefine.org/)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Kari L. Jordan. -
Guest
Stephen Okonkwo
Panelist
Richard Littauer
Show Notes
In this episode of Sustain, the OSCA 2023 series, host Richard welcomes Steve Okonkwo, a multidisciplinary designer who actively contributes to the Open Source Community Africa (OSCA). Steve sheds light on his role in enhancing user experience through thoughtful design, particularly for OSCA, and shares his dedication to continue elevating the design team's work. Richard and Steve discuss the Sustain sub-event, the importance of design in open source, and the intricacies of conference planning around open source products. Steve also touches on the significance of research, the need for transparency in open source communities, and his personal journey and future aspirations within the design landscape. Press download now to hear more!
[00:01:07] Steve tells us about his career as a multidisciplinary designer and his work in open source. He discusses his focus on improving user experience through design, including website and brand identity design for OSCA.
[00:02:01] Richard compliments the OSCA’s branding, particularly the orange logos, and Steve mentions that OSCA has been his primary focus, and he plans to continue supporting their design team.
[00:02:55] There was a large attendance at the last OSCAFest and a Sustain sub-event. Steve tells us he was the design facilitator for the design side of Sustain.
[00:03:40] Steve highlights key points from OSCA discussions, including the growing opportunities for designers in open source and the importance of contributing to project aesthetics.
[00:05:30] The conversation shifts to the iterative nature of web design and user experience, and Steve emphasizes the importance of research and testing in design updates to prevent overwhelming users.
[00:06:37] Richard discusses the uniqueness of working with open source communities and the need for transparency. Steve talks about his approach to working with open source, emphasizing transparency, communications, and commitment to quality.
[00:08:09] Richard asks about building a conference around open source products, and Steve shares insights from OSCAFest, including showcasing new tools like Penpot.
[00:10:15] Richard inquires about challenges in designing the OSCA festival, and Steven mentions issues with physical artwork and space design.
[00:11:02] What’s next for Steve? He talks about his current role as a multidisciplinary designer in Spokane, Washington, and his aspirations in open source design.
[00:12:06] Find out where you can find out more about Steve’s work on the web.
Quotes
[00:05:19] “They always say in the tech industry, the web is never done.”
[00:05:45] “Research is a very important part of design.”
Links
SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)
Richard Littauer Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/richlittv3)
Steve Okonkwo Twitter (https://twitter.com/steveanthny)
Stephen Okonkwo LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenokonkwo/)
Steve Okonkwo Website (https://read.cv/steve990)
Penpot (https://penpot.app/)
OSCA (https://oscafrica.org/)
OSCA Festival (https://festival.oscafrica.org/)
Credits
Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Stephen Okonkwo. -
GuestYani Bellini SaibenePanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesIn this episode of Sustain, host Richard welcomes guest Yani Bellini Saibene from Argentina. Yani, with a rich background in open source community management, shares her journey into the tech and open source world, and highlights her roles as the rOpenSci Community Manager, R-Ladies Project Lead, and Vice President for the Board of Directors for The Carpentries. The discussion dives into the challenges of funding, sustainability of volunteer-based models, and the importance of including diverse voices in open source development. The conversation also explores the economic disparities and cultural differences affecting contributors form the global south and how building strong local communities can empower individuals by providing them with tools, knowledge, and a sense of belonging in the wider world. Press download to hear more![00:01:47] Yani describes her start as a researcher at INTA while at university, her degree in computer science, and her initial work developing software and teaching scientists to use computing tools. She also details her career progression and her master thesis at INTA.[00:04:49] We hear about the foundation and global expansion of R-Ladies, as Yani emphasizes community strength and the organizers’ passion. She discusses the flexibility and inclusivity of the chapters, and the support and resources shared among the community. [00:08:56] Richard questions about the distinct roles and activities between rOpenSci, R-Ladies, and The Carpentries, which appear to have similar goals in teaching R, and Yani explains the different objectives of the three organizations. [00:12:50] Yani lists the funders, including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Sloan Foundation, and others. She describes the funding models for R-Ladies and Carpentries and the challenges of sustaining such community-oriented projects. [00:14:52] Richard inquires about the role of the board of directors in establishing post-grant funding. Yani explains The Carpentries’ membership model where institutions pay for benefits like workshops and instructor training, she mentions the perks for members, discusses the challenges of maintaining services without sufficient membership or grants, and highlights cultural and financial barriers in Latin America. [00:20:17] Richard is curious about cultural barriers and asks for further insights into overcoming cultural barriers and the limitations of translations. Yani discusses her personal journey with the English language and its importance in coding beyond syntax and shares some data from a recent study that was done, and the paper is called, “The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science,” from PLOS Biology.[00:24:42] Yani discusses additional studies, mentioning the Linux Foundation report on English as a barrier in open source contribution and its influence on perceived expertise.[00:25:55] Richard asks Yani about the point at which translation efforts start to yield benefits for the community and inquires about the visible impacts and dividends from investments in internationalizing materials. Yani cites examples of immediate benefits, and discusses her involvement in translating educational materials, which has supported teaching many Spanish speaking teachers.[00:32:38] Richard raises concerns about the possibility of global exploitation through talent extraction from non-English speaking regions. Yani addresses the issue of local versus international business compensation and the ethical implications for non-profit organizations.[00:36:30] We hear Richard’s concerns about how to have conversations about open source contributions and community building in a non-extractive way and he wonders if it’s feasible to collectively support open source maintainers financially. Yani explains the concept of three “currencies” in any job: money, heart, and brain. [00:39:16] Yani discusses the champions program at rOpenSci, where stipends were important for participants to allocate time to the tasks and do an excellent job. [00:41:05] Find out where you can follow Yani online. Quotes[00:06:17] “In R-Ladies, you have enough informality and enough expertise to make this a special place to learn.”[00:18:26] “There is little funding for maintaining what you already have.” [00:20:40] “I have to confess that I approached the English language because I loved code.”Spotlight[00:42:26] Richard’s spotlight is a book he’s reading called, Theodore Rex.[00:43:10] Yani’s spotlight is a friend and someone she works with at R-Ladies, Athanasia Mo Mowinckel.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Yani Bellini Saibene GitHub (https://github.com/yabellini)Yani Bellini Saibene Mastodon (https://fosstodon.org/@yabellini)Yani Bellini Saibene Website (https://yabellini.netlify.app/)Yani Bellini Saibene LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/yabellini/)Teaching Tech Together (https://teachtogether.tech/)R-Ladies (https://rladies.org/)The Carpentries (https://carpentries.org/index.html)rOpenSci (https://ropensci.org/)The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science (PLOS Biology) (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002184)Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (https://chanzuckerberg.com/)Sloan Foundation (https://sloan.org/)Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink (https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/)Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Rex_(book))Dr. Athanasia Mo Mowinckel (https://drmowinckels.io/) CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Yani Bellini Saibene.
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