The Value of DevRel and Contributing to Open Source Initiatives
May 3, 2024
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Guest Craig Box discusses developer relations, open-source contributions, and the establishment of CNCF. Topics include the evolution of dev rel teams, integration with product teams, governance structures in open source, inclusivity in tech communities, and the value of relationships in the open-source world.
Developer relations play a crucial role in engaging users and fostering community collaboration in open-source projects.
Effective open-source community building requires fair governance, collaboration, and individuals driving engagement and project management.
Deep dives
Craig Box's Journey in Technology and DevOps
Craig Box shares his journey from starting in IT in New Zealand to working on Kubernetes at Google. He explains his evolution from customer-facing IT roles to system administration and then to cloud deployments. This experience led him to become one of the leads on Istio while working at Google, highlighting the collaborative nature of community open source projects.
Developer Relations and its Evolution
Craig delves into the importance of developer relations, discussing its role in engaging end users, gathering feedback, and fostering community collaboration. He explains that developer relations has evolved from traditional evangelism to a more advocacy-focused approach. Craig emphasizes the need for technical backgrounds in developer relations to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
The Dynamics of Open Source Communities and Collaboration
Craig explores the dynamics of open source communities, emphasizing self-organization and diverse stakeholder collaboration. He highlights the challenges and solutions for building effective multi-vendor open source communities, including establishing fair governance, fostering collaboration, and addressing legal aspects. Craig also stresses the significance of individuals who can drive community engagement and project management in large open source initiatives like Istio.
The Future of Technology and the Importance of Relationships
In contemplating the future of technology, Craig suggests that while methodologies may evolve, the core of writing and deploying code remains constant. He reflects on the uncertainty of future skills and emphasizes the enduring value of relationships and collaboration in an ever-changing technological landscape. Craig concludes by underscoring the Maori philosophy 'He aha te mea nui o te ao, He tangata, he tangata, he tangata' (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people), highlighting the timeless significance of human connections in the tech industry.
This is the Engineering Culture Podcast, from the people behind InfoQ.com and the QCon conferences.
In this podcast Shane Hastie, Lead Editor for Culture & Methods spoke to Craig Box about the role of developer relations and contributing to the open-source community
Read a transcript of this interview: https://bit.ly/4ddBa9P
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