Sustain

Guests Eriol Fox | Allen “Gunner” Gunn | Leslie Hawthorn | Abby Cabunoc Mayes Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this special episode of Sustain, Richard has a discussion with guests and fellow hosts Eriol Fox, Abby Cabunoc Mayes, Leslie Hawthorne, and Gunner, about the recent virtual Sustain event discussing the current state and future of sustaining open source software. The conversation covers a broad range of topics, from the impact of AI on open source and the complexity of corporate funding, to the importance of succession planning and the need for a continued focus on equity and inclusion. The group also express gratitude to the community and highlight the necessity of creating safe spaces for deep and meaningful discussions about the human aspects of open source. Future events and potential topics are also teased. Hit the download button now! [00:01:45] Gunner shares an event summary starting on the evolution of SustainOSS, and talks about the topics ranging from usage metrics, donor programs, geopolitical barriers in FOSS, and details the working sessions. [00:03:34] Everyone shares their personal takeaway from the event. [00:09:57] We hear about the conversations that were missed at the event and what everyone would like to talk about in the future about sustaining open source. [00:17:56] Gunner briefs us on the next event with a possibility of another forum focused entirely on AI, and Richard proposes exploring digital sovereignty and how it intersects with open source principles. [00:19:39] We end with final thoughts from everyone: Gunner expresses gratitude for the community, Abby is grateful for the space and conversations, Leslie gives a shoutout to UN Open Source Week for fostering global cooperation, Eriol praises Jonah Duckles for putting out “Ten Simple Rules for Academic Open Source Collaborations with Industry,” and Richard encourages listeners to keep contributing and engaging with the Sustain community. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon SustainOSS Bluesky SustainOSS LinkedIn Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Eriol Fox Website Allen “Gunner” Gunn LinkedIn Leslie Hawthorn LinkedIn Abby Cabunoc Mayes Website Monki Gras 2025 UN Open Source Week 2025 Ten Simple Rules for Academic Open Source Collaborations with Industry by Jonah Duckles, Dan Sholler, Beth Duckles Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Support Sustain

Sean Goggins, a tenured professor at the University of Missouri, dives into the world of open source through his work with the CHAOSS Project. He emphasizes distributed leadership as a cornerstone for open source sustainability and explores how metrics can drive improvement. Sean reflects on balancing academia with community engagement, discussing challenges like the maintenance of open-source software. He also highlights the significance of mentorship and collaboration in creating inclusive and supportive environments within open source communities.

Guest Neil Chue Hong Panelists Richard Littauer | Justin Dorfman Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, hosts Richard Littauer and Justin Dorfman talk with Neil Chue Hong, Director of the Software Sustainability Institute (SSI). They discuss the SSI's mission to sustain software used in research, the institute's history and funding, the role of research software engineers, and the newly launched Research Software Maintenance Fund (RSMF) with £4.8 million dedicated to supporting research software. Neil shares insights into the collaboration, training initiatives, and policy work done by the SSI to promote sustainability in software development. The episode also touches on the impact of large funding initiatives like those from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the evolving role of software development in the age of large language models (LLMs). Hit the download button now! [00:01:44] Neil explains SSI’s mission and purpose. [00:02:27] Richard inquires about SSI’s funding model and how long SSI has existed. Neil explains SSI is a government funded collaboration via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and it was founded in 2010 and is funded through 2028. [00:05:03] Richard highlights SSI’s impact and Neil discusses how SSI helped establish “Research Software Engineer (RSE)’ as a recognized role. [00:08:20] SSI’s annual Collaborations Workshop (May 13-15 in Stirling, UK) is mentioned, and Neil recalls a pivotal collaboration with Greg Wilson (Software Carpentry), which expanded training programs. [00:11:16] Neil explains that the SSI has evolved from consultancy to training, community initiatives, and policy advocacy to scale its impact and ensure long-term sustainability in research software. [00:13:57] Richard introduces SSI’s new £4.8M Research Software Maintenance Fund (RSMF). Neil explains it supports maintaining existing research software and it’s funded by the UK’s Digital Research Infrastructure Programme (UKRI). [00:16:54] A question comes up about the geopolitical impact of this funding and Neil states the UK is maintaining leadership in research software sustainability, not just focusing on national capability. [00:20:54] Neil defines research software products being targeted by the RSMF as software used beyond its original development team. [00:22:54] Richard asks if £4.8M is a significant investment and Neil explains this is comparable to past UK research software grants.. [00:25:10] Neil acknowledges Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) for improving funding models for research software. [00:29:45] Justin asks how LLMs are changing research software engineering. Neil compares LLMs’ impact on software development to smartphones revolutionizing photography. [00:34:05] Find out where you can connect with UKRI, SSI, and with Neil on the web. Quotes [00:02:07] “We’ve got this motto: Better Software, Better Research.” [00:29:03] “You can define what is clearly sci-fi, you can define what is clearly research software, but making an arbitrary cut-off point is really hard.” Spotlight [00:35:13] Justin’s spotlight is ghostty. [00:35:40] Richard’s spotlight is Olympus Tough cameras. [00:36:34] Neil’s spotlight is The Carpentries and Cinema For All. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Justin Dorfman X Neil Chue Hong LinkedIn Software Sustainability Institute (SSI) Save the date for Collaborations Workshop 2025 (CW25)-SSI UKRI awards the Software Sustainability Institute £4.8m to strengthen research software maintenance in the UK (SSI) Digital Research Infrastructure Programme (UKRI) Sustain Podcast- Episode 43: Investing in Open Infrastructure with Kaitlin Thaney Sustain Podcast- Episode 230: Kari L. Jordan on The Carpentries Sustain Podcast- Episode 235: The State of Open Infrastructure 2024, from IOI with Emmy Tsang Open Source in Academia Map ghostty Olympus Tough camera The Carpentries Cinema For All Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Special Guest: Neil Chue Hong.Support Sustain

In this engaging conversation, Alison Hill, VP of Product at Anaconda and a cognitive scientist, shares her journey from academia to the tech industry. She explores the vital role of product management in open source, especially in balancing user needs with business goals. Alison discusses the challenges of maintaining open source projects like the Palmer Penguins, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and sustainable practices. Her insights on data science education and the significance of statistics will inspire anyone in the tech field!

Brian Muenzenmeyer, a seasoned open source contributor and author of 'Approachable Open Source,' shares his journey from early contributions to overcoming burnout. He discusses the importance of building sustainable open source communities and the balance between innovation and stability. Offering insights from his book, he emphasizes the significance of diverse contributions and accessible avenues for participation, while advocating for corporate engagement in funding models. Tune in for practical advice on navigating challenges in the open source landscape!

In this conversation, Alexander Petros, the core maintainer of htmx, shares his passion for sustainable web development tools. He delves into the evolution of HTML and critiques the overcomplexity many developers bring to solutions. The origins of htmx as a jQuery extension and its transition during the pandemic are discussed. Alexander emphasizes the need for lightweight systems and long-term sustainability in digital infrastructure. He also offers a vision for the future of web technologies focused on simplicity and scalability.

Guest Robert Douglass Panelist Richard Littauer | Abby Cabunoc Mayes Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, hosts Richard Littauer and Abby Cabunoc Mayes speak with Robert Douglass, Entrepreneur in Residence at Open Strategy Partners, to delve into sustaining open source projects. They explore Robert's extensive history with Drupal, the role of Open Strategy Partners, and the innovative Drupal Certified Partner Program designed to address the maker-taker dilemma in open source. The episode also covers the recently launched RFP templates aimed at promoting open source software and certified partners. Robert shares insights on gamification, the economic aspects of contributing to Drupal, and future initiatives to ensure the continued sustainability of open source projects. Hit download now to hear more! [00:01:49] Robert shares his background in the Drupal ecosystem and his involvement with Open Strategy Partners, which provides strategic content marketing for B2B tech companies focusing on open source. [00:02:43] Robert explains Open Strategy Partners’ focus on supporting open source projects and mentions clients like DDEV and TYPO3. [00:04:06] Richard and Robert discuss what it means to be an entrepreneur in residence, with Robert explaining his role in developing new products for Open Strategy Partners and the books he has written. [00:05:52] Robert reflects on the early days of Drupal and the challenges in making open source sustainable. He notes how the community was initially driven by passion, with few paid opportunities. [00:08:05] Robert introduces the Drupal Certified Partner Program, a system for supporting Drupal sustainability by encouraging companies to contribute both time and money. [00:10:03] The conversation covers how Drupal’s contribution system gamifies the support companies provide to the ecosystem. Companies can earn contribution credits, which are visible on Drupal.org and benefit their reputation. [00:15:41] Abby asks about the potential downsides of gamification, especially regarding diversity. Robert explains how placing the system at the company level may mitigate some negative impacts. [00:18:17] Richard inquires about the financial structure of the Drupal Certified Partner Program. Robert clarifies that the funds collected support the Drupal Association’s core mission, including maintaining Drupal.org and organizing events. [00:21:33] Robert discusses the development of RFP (Request for Proposal) templates to encourage companies to consider certified open source providers, explaining how this initiative promotes sustainability in the ecosystem. [00:25:56] Robert describes how the RFP templates allow purpose-driven organizations to incorporate open source values in their procurement process, aligning with their missions. [00:27:00] Robert invites listeners to explore and utilize the RFP templates, which are available under a Creative Commons Zero license, encouraging others to adapt and improve them. [00:29:47] Find out where you can follow Robert and his work online. Quotes [00:08:57] “Open Source is like a free puppy.” Spotlight [00:30:30] Abby’s spotlight is Common Sort thrift shop in Toronto. [00:30:52] Richard’s spotlight is Wikidata. [00:31:21] Robert’s spotlight is Chad Whitacre and Sentry. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Abby Cabunoc Mayes X Robert Douglass LinkedIn Open Strategy Partners Open Strategy Partners Blog Building Online Communities with Drupal, phpBB, and WordPress by Robert Douglass, Mike Little, Jared W. Smith Drupal Certified Partner Program Drupal How to Write an RFP for Open Source Solutions: Featuring Drupal Certified Partners OSP: Supporting Drupal Certified Partners Sustain Podcast-Episode 148: Ali Nehzat of thanks.dev and OSS Funding Common Sort Wikidata Chad Whitacre LinkedIn Sentry Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Special Guest: Robert Douglass.Support Sustain

Giulio Carvalho, a civic tech practitioner and program manager at Open Knowledge Brasil, dives into the transformative power of open data and government transparency in Brazil. He shares insights on the Querido Diário project, designed to centralize municipal data for public access. The challenges facing civic tech in developing nations are explored, including competition from big tech companies. Giulio emphasizes community involvement and local solutions as vital for the success of initiatives like the Civic Innovation Ambassador Network.

In this engaging conversation, Devin Stein, CEO and Founder of Dosu—a company focused on AI-driven solutions for open source software—shares his insights on sustaining open source projects. He discusses how Dosu creates a 'living knowledge base' to automate support and maintenance, easing the burden on maintainers. The dialogue touches on ethical AI practices, monetization strategies for open source, and the environmental impact of AI technologies. Devin also emphasizes the importance of balancing automation with real human interactions in the community.

Kailash Nadh, CTO of Zerodha and an advocate for open source, dives into the intricacies of funding open-source projects. He discusses the innovative FLOSS/Fund, committing a million dollars annually to vital initiatives. The conversation reveals the new funding.json format aimed at simplifying grant applications and the challenges of international funding from India. Additionally, Kailash addresses the importance of quality over quantity in funding choices and reflects on reviving India’s open-source communities through the FOSS United Foundation.