The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Oh my! Zsh. (Interview)
Oct 25, 2021
Robby Russell, the creator of Oh My Zsh and an open-source software maintainer, shares his decade-long journey with the project. He discusses the evolution of Oh My Zsh, emphasizing its community-driven nature and user-friendly plugins. Robby also opens up about the challenges of managing an open-source project with a small team and the significance of engaging with the community. He reflects on his transition from a novice programmer to an entrepreneur, underscoring the importance of balancing passion with professional commitments.
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Podcast from Paris
- Robby Russell fondly recalls recording his first Changelog podcast from a Paris apartment over a decade ago.
- He remembers being nervous about the audio setup and the experience itself.
Unexpected Success
- Oh My Zsh's success was unexpected, growing organically from a simple tool to a large framework.
- Robby's initial goal was just to share his aliases and shortcuts with co-workers for easier pairing.
Custom Directory Discovery
- Adam Stacoviak discovered the custom directory in Oh My Zsh after a decade of use, resolving a Git issue caused by theme placement during an upgrade.
- This highlights the continuous learning process even with long-term use.