Open Source Stories

Ever wonder if you’re the only one who feels like open source is a mystery? Julia Silge shares how she went from thinking it was just ‘some person alone in a room’ to realizing it’s a whole world of collaboration and community! Plus, find out why being wrong on the internet isn’t so bad after all.

Dive into a whimsical view of open source with Erin McKean as she examines it through the lens of Taylor Swift’s Eras. From the ‘Inventor Era’ to the ‘Responsibility Era,’ Erin explores how the focus of open source has changed over time. Discover why you need napkins and what ‘fully automated luxury space communism’ might have to do with it all!

Hadley Wickham, Chief Scientist at Posit and a leading force behind the tidyverse, shares his journey from humble beginnings to shaping a vibrant data science community. He discusses the delicate balance of providing help while respecting autonomy, and the crucial role of communication in academia. Wickham highlights the importance of feedback in fostering creativity, and he reflects on managing multiple projects while savoring creativity through holiday baking. Join this inspiring exploration of innovation and community support!

Open source lets you create the experiences you want– whether it be with technology, community, or your lasting impact on the world. In his Open Source Story, Rich Bowen reflects on some of the ways in which open source has opened doors to meet those who have inspired him as well as how he thinks about opening doors for others.

In this conversation between Andy Piper and amanda casari, Andy talks about their work in open source communities, specifically highlighting how communities differ, have different needs, and how these needs change and evolve over time. Additionally the discussion covers the “non-glamourous” work that needs to be done, and how difficult it can be to know what sort of help to ask for as a project.

Carol Willing, a veteran programmer with a passion for making technology accessible, shares her journey from mainframe computers to the world of Python and Jupyter Notebooks. She emphasizes the importance of generalist skills, critical thinking, and building up the next generation of engineers.

In a conversation looking at multiple meanings of open source governance and project health, Shauna Gordon-McKeon shares with Open Source Stories views of how investing in project culture can build virtuous cycles of inclusion and contribution. From reducing the number of roles that a maintainer might have to fill to lowering the barriers for user participation, this conversation looks to build from crisis management in 2017 to continuing improvements into the future with the ways open source projects get done.

Why should open source have all the fun? Clare Dillon shares her experience in the wonderful world of innersource, the application of open source practices within organizations. Collaboration is just too exciting not to share!

From selling stickers to creating one of the most popular projects on GitHub, Robby Russell looks back at the inception and unexpected rise of Oh My Zsh. Usefulness, creativity, and a good onboarding experience are key ingredients in this recipe.

Measuring community health reveals challenges people experience in contributing. Anita Ihuman explains how to build awareness and leverage existing solutions for greater belonging in open source. What you measure, you can see and change!