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Batool Almarzouq
Richard Littauer | Amanda Casari
In this episode, hosts Richard Littauer and Amanda Casari are joined by Batool Almarzouq, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and Research Project Manager at the Alan Turing Institute. They discuss Batool's work in open science, including her involvement in the Open Science Community Saudi Arabia, localization efforts, and the challenges of connecting global and local open science initiatives. The conversation covers Batool's efforts to make research more accessible and open in the Arab region, the concept of localization vs. translation, her experiences with translation management systems, and the importance of community and mentorship in advancing open science. Batool shares insights from her collaborations with various groups and the influence of Latin American communities on her work. Press download now to hear more!
[00:02:11] Batool explains her roles at various institutions and how she promotes open science in Saudi Arabia and globally.
[00:03:31] Batool discusses the difficulties Arab researchers face in engaging with open science, including language barriers and the Western focus of many initiatives.
[00:04:50] Amanda asks about the vision for open science in Saudi Arabia and Batool talks about open science values in the Arab world and the cultural significance of knowledge sharing pre-colonization.
[00:07:56] Batool talks about localization efforts and bridging the gap between Western and Arab scientific norms.
[00:11:04] There’s a discussion on how Batool connects researchers and community leaders in Arab countries, the grassroots nature of the Open Science Community Saudi Arabia, and the importance of local engagement.
[00:14:20] Batool details the technical tools used for localization, challenges with translating right-to-left languages, and the importance of building open source tools for internationalization.
[00:20:20] There’s a conversation on the difficulties in securing funding for localization efforts and the importance of empowering local communities to take charge of their own knowledge production.
[00:23:43] Batool shares insights on working with Latin American communities, shared challenges in open science, and the importance of community-led initiatives.
[00:25:33] We hear Batool’s thoughts on the importance of mentorship, community, and collective action in creating meaningful change.
[00:27:51] Find out where you can follow Batool and her work online.
[00:06:56] “One of the things is that science used to be more transdisciplinary.”
[00:11:18] “We have our own full-time jobs, there’s no system that we use in place recording or creating things. It’s more about connecting people and creating that space for this discussion to grow.”
[00:25:51] “There’s two places I get a lot of value from outside of academia: engaging with community practice and finding mentors.”
[00:27:17] “Finding people who relate to you, relate to your ideas, and also help you articulate them better and see what other people are trying to do gives you a lot of power.”
Produced by Richard Littauer
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound
Special Guest: Batool Almarzouq.
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Juan Pablo Alperin | John Willinsky
Richard Littauer
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.
[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.”
Produced by Richard Littauer
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound
Special Guests: John Willinsky and Juan Pablo Alperin.
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Nolan Lawson
Richard Littauer | Eric Berry | Justin Dorfman
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.
Produced by Richard Littauer
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound
Special Guest: Nolan Lawson.
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Gina Häußge
Richard Littauer
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.
[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.”
Produced by Richard Littauer
Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound
Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound
Special Guest: Gina Häußge.
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Juliana Barros Lima
Richard Littauer
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.
Special Guest: Juliana Barros Lima.
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Jenn Turner
Richard Littauer
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.
[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.”
Special Guest: Jenn Turner.
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Lorenzo Sciandra | Mirko Swillus
Richard Littauer | Abby Mayes
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.
Special Guests: Lorenzo Sciandra and Mirko Swillus.
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Chad Whitacre
Richard Littauer | Eriol Fox
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.
Special Guest: Chad Whitacre.
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Divya Mohan
Richard Littauer
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.
[00:22:50] “OSS projects are the best example of how asynchronous communities can give something of value.”
Special Guest: Divya Mohan.
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Brian Douglas
Richard Littauer
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.
Special Guest: Brian Douglas.
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