Sustain

SustainOSS
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Sustain

Sustain brings together practitioners, sustainers, funders, researchers and maintainers of the open source ecosystem. We have conversations about the health and sustainability of the open source community. We learn about the ins and outs of what ‘open source’ entails in the real world. Open source means so much more than a license; we're interested in talking about how to make sure that the culture of open source continues, grows, and ultimately, sustains itself. #mcembedsignup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Newsletter

  1. Episode 253: Juan Pablo Alperin and John Willinsky on the Public Knowledge Project and Open Journal Systems

    5 DAYS AGO

    Episode 253: Juan Pablo Alperin and John Willinsky on the Public Knowledge Project and Open Journal Systems

    Guest Juan Pablo Alperin | John Willinsky Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, host Richard discusses the importance of maintaining open access to research with guests Juan Pablo Alperin and John Willinsky from the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). The conversation covers PKP’s history, the development of their open-source software, Open Journal Systems (OJS), and its impact on scholarly publishing. They dive into the integration with other open-access initiatives, the role of AI in future projects, and the challenges faced in balancing sustainability with the rising demands of their growing user base. The episode also touches on community-driven translations and the importance of creating equitable access to knowledge, especially for communities in the global south. Download this episode now! [00:01:20] John explains PKP’s commitment to open access, starting in 1998 with the goal of making research publicly available. [00:02:35] Juan describes Open Journal Systems (OJS) as the flagship open source software of PKP, which facilitates research publication worldwide. [00:04:57] The conversation touches on the peer review process, the importance of making scholarly knowledge open, and how PKP encourages open access through their platform. [00:07:44] John and Juan explain how OJS allows academics and institutions to manage the entire publishing process, from submission to peer review and publication, while maintaining the integrity of research. [00:11:54] John discusses the intersection of open source and open access, noting the successes and challenges that remain in the fight for free and equitable access to research. [00:13:52] Richard inquires about where the funding is coming from, and Juan explains. [00:16:49] The guests highlight how commercial publishers have embraced open access, though often in ways that perpetuate inequalities, such as through article processing charges (APCs). [00:21:09] The discussion touches on sustainability, both in terms of funding PKP and the broader scholarly ecosystem, and the risks of commercializing access to knowledge. [00:25:23] Translation and localization efforts are discussed and how PKP’s platform supports multiple languages, enabling access to knowledge across diverse linguistic communities. [00:31:42] The challenges of integrating non-Western and indigenous knowledge systems into scholarly publishing is discussed. [00:35:57] Juan and John share the hurdles PKP faces in terms of keeping up with community demand and ensuring long-term sustainability. [00:39:41] Find out where you can learn more about the projects online. Quotes [00:12:20] “This was going to be Rhetware, that is, it was rhetorical.” [00:13:07] “Open access is close to 50% of the research in the world that’s published this year will be freely available to the public and researchers everywhere.” [00:14:55] “An important part of our sustainability is that we provide hosting services for the software.” [00:36:40] "As the community has grown, so have the demands and expectations of the project.” Spotlight [00:41:07] Richard’s spotlight is Kawawachikamach, Quebec, [00:41:54] Juan Pablo’s spotlight is the project, pandas. [00:42:31] John’s spotlight is Mattermost. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials John Willinsky LinkedIn Juan Pablo Alperin Mastodon Public Knowledge Project (PKP) Public Knowledge Project (PKP) Community Forum Public Knowledge Project (PKP) GitHub Open Journal Systems (OJS) Kawawachikamach, Quebec pandas Mattermost Copyright’s Broken Promise: How to Restore the Law’s Ability to Promote the Progress of Science By John Willinsky Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Special Gues

    45 min
  2. Episode 252: Nolan Lawson of PouchDB on what it feels like to be a maintainer

    OCT 18

    Episode 252: Nolan Lawson of PouchDB on what it feels like to be a maintainer

    Guest Nolan Lawson Panelist Richard Littauer | Eric Berry | Justin Dorfman Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, Richard, Justin, and Eric revisit an unreleased interview with Nolan Lawson from 2020. They discuss Nolan's experience as a former maintainer of PouchDB, the emotional labor of being an open source maintainer, and the challenges that led him to step away from such high-profile projects. Nolan also shares his thoughts on the impact of reputation-driven development, open source community dynamics, and his journey towards a healthier relationship with open source. The conversation delves into the candid realities of burnout and the personal sacrifices often made by unpaid open source contributors. Nolan highlights his transition to more sustainable open source practices and his new interests including his work on a Mastodon client called Pinafore. Download now to hear more! [00:01:43] Nolan explains his background with PouchDB and shares his fascination with databases and browser technologies. [00:02:58] Richard shares his personal connection to PouchDB, mentioning how he discovered Nolan through his work on the project. [00:03:26] Nolan talks about his blog post form 2017 titled, “What it feels like to be an open source maintainer,” which reflected on the emotional toll and burnout he experienced for maintaining PouchDB. [00:05:33] Justin reflects on the impact of Nolan’s blog post, describing it as a “shot heard around the world” in the open source community. [00:06:48] Eric asks why Nolan and other maintainers stay involved in open source despite the challenges. Nolan explains that reputational benefits and personal interest in the technology were initial motivators for staying involved. [00:10:27] Eric asks Nolan how he realized it was time to step away from maintaining PouchDB. Nolan shares that personal life changes helped him reassess his involvement in open source and reflects on advice he received from other maintainers. [00:14:36] Richard emphasizes the personal and emotional investment many maintainers have in their projects and Nolan acknowledges the privilege of being able to work on open source, but also the challenges it poses for maintainers who feel they cannot leave. [00:21:13] Nolan shares stepping away from PouchDB has improved his mental health and personal relationships and he maintains smaller open source projects. [00:24:00] Nolan explains the importance of being personally invested in a project and realizing when it’s time to move on and Justin reflects on his own experience of stepping away from maintaining a project after years of involvement. [00:26:00] Eric asks if funding could have made a difference for Nolan’s involvement in open source, and Nolan shares that he avoided funding, preferring to keep his work as a “labor of love.” [00:26:52] What is Nolan currently doing? He talks about maintaining a Mastodon client and focusing on personal projects that bring him joy. [00:30:00] Richard discusses the importance of balancing open source work with personal life and the need for a sustainable approach to maintaining projects. [00:30:46] Eric highlights the vulnerability and self-awareness Nolan has shown in discussing his open source journey, thanking him for sharing his experiences. [00:33:13] Find out where you can follow Nolan on the internet. Spotlight [00:33:41] Justin’s spotlight is Metabase. [00:34:16] Eric’s spotlight is Parametric. [00:35:08] Richard’s spotlight is IPFS. [00:35:22] Nolan’s spotlight is fake-indexeddb. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Justin Dorfman X Eric Berry X Nolan Lawson Blog Nolan Lawson Mastodon “What it feels like to be an open source maintainer” (Blog post by Nolan) PouchDB Pinafore Salesforce Working in Public: The Making and Maintena

    37 min
  3. Episode 251: Gina Häußge of OctoPrint on Crowd-funding OSS

    OCT 11

    Episode 251: Gina Häußge of OctoPrint on Crowd-funding OSS

    Guest Gina Häußge Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, Richard chats with guest Gina Häußge, the creator and maintainer of OctoPrint, a web interface for 3D printers. Gina shares her journey in open-source development, discussing how she transitioned to working full-time on OctoPrint through crowdfunding. She talks about managing burnout, maintaining a healthy community, and the complexities of balancing development with user demands. Gina also explains the importance of API stability for plugin developers and her approach to keeping the project sustainable. The episode highlights Gina's creative solutions, such as the introduction of an achievement system to engage users and encourage project support. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:38] Gina shares how she combats the stress and emotional toll of dealing with entitled users by using a heavy bag and playing the “DOOM” soundtrack. [00:03:24] Gina explains OctoPrint and all its features. [00:06:00] Richard inquires about Gina’s approach to governance and how she maintains a healthy community while preventing burnout. Gina explains her gut feeling-driven approach to building the project and how it turned into a larger community. [00:08:51] Gina talks about how she transitioned to a four-day work week to protect her mental and physical health, and how it improved her productivity and well-being. [00:10:34] There’s a discussion about the importance of API stability for OctoPrint’s plugin developers, and Gina explains her efforts to maintain backward compatibility and avoid breaking plugins with every new release. [00:14:34] Richard asks how Gina manages community communication with forums, Discord, and other tools. She mentions the importance of searchable forums for documentation over real-time communication platforms like Discord. [00:16:58] A conversation comes up on the “third-party licenses” file on OctoPrint’s GitHub, and Gina explains it’s to ensure proper credit and transparency. [00:18:45] Gina discusses how some early architectural decisions for OctoPrint were based on gut feeling and she talks about the complexity of modernizing the UI due to the large plugin ecosystem and technical debt. [00:23:21] Gina shares her discomfort with self-promotion but explains how essential crowdfunding is to keep OctoPrint alive, and she highlights a post she wrote about financial concerns and how it led to a significant increase in support. [00:27:09] Gina shares how she introduced a fun achievement system into OctoPrint to engage users and gently remind them about supporting the project. [00:29:50] Find out where you can follow Gina and OctoPrint online. Quotes [00:18:58] Why this Thirdpartylicense.md file: “It felt like the right thing to do.” [00:19:29] When did your gut feeling fail: “Architectural decisions throughout the lifespan of OctoPrint when I didn’t know anything better.” [00:20:42] “A plugin system like OctoPrint is both a feature and a curse.” [00:23:54] “I hate being in the spotlight, I hate marketing myself, but I do love doing this work.” [00:24:17] “I feel like I’m actually making a difference and if I want to keep doing that, then I need funding.” Spotlight [00:30:45] Richard’s spotlight is Eric Berry, an excellent human. [00:31:05] Gina’s spotlight is the Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Gina Häußge LinkedIn Gina Häußge Website OctoPrint OctoPrint GitHub OctoPrint Third Party Licenses GitHub Eric Berry X Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide by Mendel Cooper Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Special Guest: Gina Häußge. Support Sustain

    34 min
  4. Episode 250: Jules Barros Lima on building diversity into open source communities

    OCT 4

    Episode 250: Jules Barros Lima on building diversity into open source communities

    Guest Juliana Barros Lima Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, Richard Littauer talks with Juliana (Jules) Barros Lima, a full-stack developer and marketing director at Associação Python Brasil. They explore Jules' involvement in organizing and supporting Python events across Brazil, including her work with PyLadies Recife and Python Brasil. The conversation dives into the challenges of fostering diversity and inclusion in open-source communities, touching on Jules’ "atomic diversity" framework for engaging local, regional, and national groups. They also discuss the impact of the pandemic on the Python community, the importance of mentorship, and the role of diverse organizing teams in creating codes of conduct that are empathetic and effective. Jules emphasizes the significance of leadership development, community collaboration, and stepping out of comfort zones to strengthen open-source communities globally. Download now to hear more! [00:01:57] Jules gives an overview of the Associação Python Brasil, what they do, and the challenges of managing a large community. [00:03:39] Jules discusses recent events organized and supported by the association and mentions that Python Brasil 2024 will be held in Rio de Janeiro and expected to have at least 300-500 attendees. [00:04:49] Jules discusses the importance of recognizing different regions’ unique cultural and economic situations within Brazil. [00:06:31] We learn about the importance of subgroups and identity-based communities like PyLadies, and Jules shares insights from a talk given at PyCon US about amplifying diversity within Python communities and introduces the concept of “atomic diversity.” [00:11:43] Jules highlights how the pandemic impacted Brazil’s Python community and discusses efforts to rebuild the community through open source tools and events. [00:14:07] Richard asks about how Brazil’s Python community fits within the larger global context and how Brazilian developers can bridge these gaps. Jules mentions that the community is still recovering and growing, the challenges with language barriers, and emphasizes the significance of maintaining open discussions and using GitHub. [00:17:12] Richard and Jules discuss the importance of having diverse organizing teams and codes of conduct (COCs). [00:23:03] Jules offers insights into the organizational challenges faced in building inclusive events and communities. One key takeaway is the importance of engaging and listening to minority groups, such as PyLadies and Rails Girls, and the need for mentorship to help build leadership within underrepresented communities. [00:26:52] Jules stresses that community work is about giving back to the people and organizations that helped individuals grow. [00:31:32] Jules shares strategies to foster new leadership by giving people manageable tasks and responsibilities to build confidence, engaging the community through social media, storytelling, and the need for cross-community collaboration. [00:36:00] Find out where you can follow Jules online. Spotlight [00:36:39] Richard’s spotlight is ‘cat’ Command. [00:37:08] Jules’s spotlight is the project, Querido Diário (Dear Diary). Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Juliana (Jules) Barros Lima Website Python Brasil 2024 Associação Python Brasil APyB (Python Brasil Association) APyB Tarefas (Tasks) APyB Comunidade (Discussions) PyLadies Recife PyLadies Rails Girls Querido Diário Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Special Guest: Juliana Barros Lima. Support Sustain

    39 min
  5. Episode 249: Why work with writers in Open Source? With Jenn Turner

    SEP 27

    Episode 249: Why work with writers in Open Source? With Jenn Turner

    Guest Jenn Turner Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer interviews Jenn Turner, a content strategist at Fastly and part of the Glitch team. They discuss Jenn's unusual journey from journalism to open source, the challenges of being a non-technical contributor in a technical field, and the importance of effective communication in open source projects. Jen shares insights about maintaining work-life balance, the role of community in sustaining open source, and the impact of social media changes on community engagement. They also touch on strategies for non-technical contributions to open source and the value of humanities skills in tech. Hit download now to hear more! [00:01:57] Jenn shares her journey into open source. [00:05:09] Richard asks how Jenn navigated being an editor through the world of open source. She emphasizes that many brilliant coders lack the communication skills necessary to bring communities along and highlights the importance of developing critical thinking skills through humanities courses. [00:07:25] Jenn talks about how editors and writers can play an essential role in promoting and communicating the value of open source projects. [00:08:30] We learn that Jenn had to deal with the pressure to learn how to code early in her career, but she recognized coding wasn’t her passion. [00:10:38] Jenn explains how she contributed to Node.js community by writing newsletters and serving on the community committee. [00:11:56] Richard and Jenn discuss the challenges of identifying as non-technical while contributing to technical spaces. [00:14:58] Jenn shares how she decoupled her identity from her occupation to prioritize time with her daughter. [00:17:23] We hear advice from Jenn for non-technical people looking to join a project in open source. [00:21:18] Richard and Jenn discuss the importance of event organizing in the open source space, encouraging listeners to get involved with organizing conferences. [00:23:09] Jenn reflects on the challenges of social media and community engagement, and she shares how Glitch and Fastly try to create meaningful conversations in their forums to foster a more centralized community. [00:32:06] There’s a conversation on the importance of having a style guide for social media to ensure consistency and fun communication. [00:34:00] Find out there you follow Jenn and find her work online. Quotes [00:05:16] “One of the funny things about the tech industry is how much emphasis is put on the ability to code.” [00:05:24] “You could be the world’s most intelligent coder but have no skillset to bring a community along.” [00:13:42] “Truly no one’s value is creating code on a project; it’s their thought process and all of the intentions and goals and things that they’re working towards.” [00:23:33] “You have to have a level of cultural fluency in order to be able to authentically connect with your audience.” Spotlight [00:35:13] Richard’s spotlight is Nolan Lawson. [00:37:12] Jenn’s spotlight is Lynn Fisher’s website, lynnandtonic.com. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Jenn Turner Website Jenn Turner Mastodon Jenn Turner LinkedIn Glitch Blog Glitch Fastly Human JavaScript by Henri Joreteg Sustain Podcast-Episode 59: Jenn Schiffer on Satire, Coding, Why Teaching OSS is Super Important Sustain Podcast-Episode 244: Jan Lehnardt & Alba Herrerías Ramírez of Neighbourhood.ie Sustain Podcast-2 episodes featuring guest Tracy Hinds Sustain Podcast-2 episodes featuring guest Ashley Williams Whichlight Anil Dash Website Robbie Augspurger Website Digital Savvies Nolan Lawson Website Lynn Fisher Website Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Spe

    41 min
  6. Episode 248: Lorenzo Sciandra and Mirko Swillus on STF's "Fellowship for Maintainers" Program

    SEP 20

    Episode 248: Lorenzo Sciandra and Mirko Swillus on STF's "Fellowship for Maintainers" Program

    Guest Lorenzo Sciandra | Mirko Swillus Panelist Richard Littauer | Abby Mayes Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer and co-host Abby Mayes are joined by Lorenzo Sciandra and Mirko Swillus from the Sovereign Tech Fund (STF) to discuss the launch of the "Fellowship for Maintainers" program. Funded by the German government, STF is dedicated to supporting open-source sustainability by funding maintainers, especially those who work on multiple projects. Lorenzo and Mirko explain how the program aims to bridge funding gaps for solo maintainers, provide mentorship, and ensure global inclusion. The episode also highlights the program's goals, the application process, and the broader impact on global open source sustainability. Hit download now to hear more! [00:01:28] Richard discusses the Sovereign Tech Fund. [00:02:52] Lorenzo highlights the launch of the “Fellowship for Maintainers” program. [00:04:16] Mirko explains that the program is a pilot, starting small and adopting an iterative approach to learn with the community and designed to fill gaps for solo maintainers who work across multiple projects. [00:06:23] Richard asks why STF is focusing on funding individuals rather than specific projects. Mirko explains maintainers often perform important but unseen work, such as security triaging, code reviews, and documentation. [00:08:45] Abby asks about the results of the survey STF conducted in preparation for the fellowship program. Mirko reveals results and insights about the survey and gives a shout-out to their communications manager, Pohen Shiah. [00:10:58] Lorenzo talks about mentorship being a key part of the fellowship and the goal to help fellows set goals and provide support beyond financial assistance. [00:14:14] Lorenzo explains the flexible, personalized nature of mentorship versus coaching and discuses common challenges and Mirko talks about the balance between full-time jobs and maintaining open source projects and explores the idea of part-time maintenance and considers making room for small freelance maintainers. [00:18:59] Richard asks why the program isn’t supporting more maintainers for fewer house each week. Mirko explains how the pilot is designed to experiment with different models. [00:20:29] Richard questions how STF will ensure diversity in selecting fellows and Mirko explains how STF is committed to global inclusion and how freelancers can apply. [00:22:22] We learn how STF will measure success with a discussion on how it be evaluated through various metrics and external experts will also help STF define success metrics for the fellowship. [00:26:39] Richard inquires if STF has reached out to other countries to expand the program. Mirko explains that STF is building global awareness of the program and the European Union and other entitles have shown interests. [00:28:24] Find out where to apply and the application process. Spotlight [00:30:23] Abby’s spotlight is Yoga Mamas Toronto, the community. [00:31:06] Richard’s spotlight is his friend, Jamie McQuilken. [00:31:53] Lorenzo’s spotlight is Proton. [00:32:47] Mirko’s spotlight is Signal app. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Abby Cabunoc Mayes X Lorenzo Sciandra LinkedIn Lorenzo Sciandra Website Mirko Swillus LinkedIn Mirko Swillus chaos social Sustain Podcast-Episode 17: How Formidable Supports Open Source With Lorenzo Sciandra Powen Shiah LinkedIn Sovereign Tech Fund Mission Sovereign Tech Fund-Fellowship for Maintainers Introduction Sovereign Tech Fund Fellowship for Maintainers Application Sovereign Tech Fund-Fellowship for Maintainers Program Sovereign Tech Fund-Fellowship for Maintainers FAQ Yoga Mamas-Toronto Proton Signal Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn

    35 min
  7. Episode 247: Chad Whitacre on the Open Source Pledge

    SEP 13

    Episode 247: Chad Whitacre on the Open Source Pledge

    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 podcast@sustainoss.org (em

    39 min
  8. Episode 246: Divya Mohan of SUSE on CHAOSS Asia

    SEP 6

    Episode 246: Divya Mohan of SUSE on CHAOSS Asia

    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 podcast@sustainoss.org (email) richard@theuserismymom.com (email) SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Divya Mohan LinkedIn

    29 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Sustain brings together practitioners, sustainers, funders, researchers and maintainers of the open source ecosystem. We have conversations about the health and sustainability of the open source community. We learn about the ins and outs of what ‘open source’ entails in the real world. Open source means so much more than a license; we're interested in talking about how to make sure that the culture of open source continues, grows, and ultimately, sustains itself. #mcembedsignup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Newsletter

Information

  • Creator
    SustainOSS
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    254
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 SustainOSS.org
  • Show Website
    Sustain

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