CHAOSScast

Thank you to the folks at Sustain for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast! CHAOSScast – Episode 108 In this episode of CHAOSScast, Harmony Elendu hosts a dynamic panel discussion with Divya Mohan, Yaya Xia, and Leon Nunes to discuss the latest updates from the CHAOSS Asia chapter. The episode dives into the history and growth of the CHAOSS Asia chapter, from focusing on metrics and localization to expanding collaborations across Asia. They discuss the challenges of awareness, contributor participation and cultural and linguistic diversity. The conversation also highlights plans for 2025 to include creating a database of open-source communities in Asia and enhancing community engagement through tailored awareness efforts. The conversation also touches on the importance of mentorship in open-source communities. Hit download now to hear more! [00:00:31] The guests introduce themselves and their backgrounds. [00:03:31] Yaya tells us the brief history of CHAOSS Asia that started in 2020. [00:05:09] Divya talks about the growth and strategy of CHAOSS Asia and how it shifted to broader community engagement and partnerships. [00:07:53] Leon talks about contributor participation and the GitHub repo for issues if anyone is interested in participating. [00:09:24] Divya shares plans for 2025 to include creating a database of open source communities in Asia. [00:11:02] Yaya dives into some challenges such as cultural and language barriers, CHAOSS is more research-focused, and the need for localized, language-accessible discussions and events. [00:13:18] Divya brings up awareness being a huge challenge when it comes to the CHAOSS project because many assume CHAOSS is only about non-technical/community work and region-specific tailored outreach is necessary. [00:15:29] Harmony asks about the current focus in CHAOSS Asia and Divya shares increasing awareness through virtual meetups, conference talks, and partnering with organizations. [00:16:40] Leon speaks about the social media and language inclusion presence with CHAOSS Asia managing Twitter and LinkedIn and considering localized subgroups for language-specific events. [00:18:21] Yaya talks about local orgs and events to connect CHAOSS and wants to bring more attention to inclusion for disabled contributors (DEI). [00:20:05] Divya highlights the importance of partnerships and amplifying others’ work. [00:21:26] Divya talks about how they are maximizing community and contributors’ participation with meetings scheduled for convenience across Asian time zones and emphasis on safety, inclusion, and providing space for diverse voices. [00:23:11] Yaya speaks about wanting to demonstrate metrics’ value to more maintainers and plans to present at local events in native languages (e.g. Chinese). Value Adds (Picks) of the week: [00:25:24] Harmony’s pick is mentorship. [00:26:17] Divya’s pick is her two cats. [00:26:56] Yaya’s pick is her cat. [00:27:29] Leon’s pick is his cat, traveling, and dancing. Panelist: Harmony Elendu Guests: Divya Mohan Yaya Xia Leon Nunes Links: CHAOSS CHAOSS Project X CHAOSScast Podcast podcast@chaoss.community CHAOSS Community Slack Harmony Elendu X Divya Mohan LinkedIn Leon Nunes LinkedIn Yaya Xia LinkedIn CHAOSS Asia CHAOSS Asia GitHubSpecial Guest: Divya Mohan.Support CHAOSScast

Thank you to the folks at Sustain for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast! CHAOSScast- Episode 107 In this episode of CHAOSScast, we have a special crossover episode with Sustain, hosted Richard Littauer. Richard chats with CHAOSS contributor Sean Goggins, a tenured full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Missouri. Sean discusses his extensive involvement in the open source community, particularly through his work with the CHAOSS Project, a Linux Foundation initiative focused on understanding and improving open-source project sustainability. Their conversation covers Sean's academic background, his role in CHAOSS, the importance of distributed leadership, and how metrics can impact the sustainability of open source projects. Sean also shares insights into his teaching methods, the challenges of maintaining open source software, and the future direction of his work on CHAOSS and Augur. Hit the download button now! [00:02:32] Sean shares that he’s a professor specializing in software engineering, algorithms, data science, and visualization, and he discusses his tenure status and passion for research and open source work. [00:03:48] Sean explains how open source leadership is distributed rather than centralized. [00:05:52] We hear how the CHAOSS Project emerged from studying open source governance and leadership. Sean and Matt Germonprez started working on open source collaboration data and a metrics-focused discussion at a Linux Foundation Summit that led to the founding of the CHAOSS Project in 2017. [00:09:30] Richard asks Sean how he balances research, teaching, and open source. Sean discusses how he splits time between research (40%), teaching (40%), and service (20%), with CHAOSS being a major part of his research efforts. [00:14:34] Sean explains that the Augur Project was born out of a need for structured open source data tracking. [00:16:25] Richard asks Sean if he teaches his students about open source, and he explains that he uses CHAOSS and Auger to teach students about GitHub collaboration, pull requests, and open source workflows. [00:20:32] Sean shares his insights on research and open source. He emphasizes his involvement in maintaining software and aiding organizations in making sense of CHAOSS metrics through Augur, which has given him a deep understanding of open source development. [00:21:51] Sean explains why he thinks metrics help make projects more sustainable and how the CHAOSS community has benefitted from fostering a welcoming environment for both technical and non-technical contributors. [00:26:30] We hear some challenges within CHAOSS where it’s been difficult to build a strong developer community around CHAOSS software tools and maintaining open source software requires significant effort. [00:29:18] He goes further to explain how to be a better project and that there’s potential for improving project sustainability through structured mentoring and governance. [00:36:14] Sean shares CHAOSS Project’s future and research goals. Panelist: Richard Littauer of Sustain Guest: Sean Goggins of CHAOSS Value Adds (Picks)/Spotlight: [00:38:32] Richard’s spotlight is BibtexParser. [00:39:28] Sean’s spotlight is Stuart Geiger. Links: SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Sean Goggins Website Sean Goggins X Nora McDonald Website Nora McDonald-Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Sustain Podcast- 3 episodes featuring guest Georg Link Sustain Podcast- 2 episodes featuring guest Dawn Foster Matt Germonprez-Univ. of Nebraska Omaha The Linux Kernel Maintainer Summit-Tokyo, Japan 2025 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation CHAOSS CHAOSS-GrimoireLab CHAOSS-Augur Kelly Blincoe-University of Auckland James Howison Sustain Podcast- episode 218 featuring guest James Howison Sustain Podcast-episode 243 featuring guest Elizabeth Barron Sustain Podcast-episode 65 featuring guest Brian Proffitt Sustain Podcast-2 episodes featuring guest Duane O’Brien Sustain Podcast-episode 200 featuring guest Stuart Geiger Digital Infrastructure Podcast- 2 episodes featuring guest Rayya El Zein BibtexParser Stuart GeigerSpecial Guest: Richard Littauer.Support CHAOSScast

Thank you to the folks at Sustain for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast! CHAOSScast – Episode 106 In this episode of the CHAOSScast, host Alice Sowerby introduces guests Dawn Foster, Cailean Osborne, and Paul Sharratt to discuss the newly formed 'Funding Impact Measurement Working Group' within the CHAOSS community. The panel explores the group's origins, goals, and objectives, emphasizing the importance of mixed method approaches to assess the impact of funding on open source projects. They highlight the significance of both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the effects of funding better and share insights on creating standardized frameworks for impact assessment. The discussion also touches on the challenges of public versus private funding, the nuances of financial support in open source projects, and the potential benefits of having a collaborative, open forum for related discussions. Hit download now to hear more! [00:02:55] Dawn explains the newly established ‘Funding Impact Measurement Working Group’ within the CHAOSS Project including its goals and how often they meet. [00:04:26] Paul describes how the working group was founded after a research paper was written on measuring the impact of public funding on open source and how they presented at Open Forum Academy at Harvard Business School. [00:07:20] Dawn highlights open source funding comes from different sources and more about Microsoft’s FOSS Fund and measuring the impact of corporate sponsorship. [00:10:25] Cailean outlines all the core objectives of the working group. [00:13:17] We hear about the working group’s first meeting, including members from Digital Infrastructure Insights Fund, and the plan to build a repository of funding models, their effectiveness, and key case studies. [00:15:34] There’s a discussion on the challenges in measuring funding impact, which Dawn explains cases where funding has led to community conflicts (some contributors get paid while others remain unpaid). [00:19:45] Cailean talks about the long-term vision for the group which is expanding participation across different funding sources and building open source tools (e.g., Python scripts, Jupyter Notebooks) to support funding impact assessments. [00:21:26] Dawn encourages participation in a working group by contributing in various ways, whether through technical resources, providing insights and experiences related to funding impacts, or simply learning and engaging in discussions. [00:23:42] Paul and Cailean emphasize the need for qualitative research alongside quantitative metrics. Policymakers often seek “hard numbers,” but contextual insights from interviews and case studies are crucial. Value Adds (Picks) of the week: [00:29:12] Cailean’s pick is Audrey Tang at RightsCon on her dual meaning of digital in Chinese. [00:30:34] Dawn’s pick is Blender for designing 3D models she can print. [00:32:35] Paul's pick is ERROR bug bounty program. [00:33:46] Alice’s pick is scrolling for things on eBay like fun sweaters. Panelist: Alice Sowerby Guests: Dawn Foster Cailean Osborne Paul Sharratt Links: CHAOSS CHAOSS Project X CHAOSScast Podcast CHAOSS Slack podcast@chaoss.community CHAOSS Calendar Alice Sowerby LinkedIn Dawn Foster Bluesky Cailean Osborne, PhD LinkedIn Paul Sharratt LinkedIn Paul Sharratt Bluesky Sovereign Tech Agency The Linux Foundation Europe Funding Impact Measurement Working Group A Toolkit for Measuring the Impacts of Public Funding on Open Source Software Development (Paper) “Measuring the impact of our investments: introducing a co-authored paper,” by Paul Sharratt [Audrey Tang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Tang#:~:text=Audrey%20Tang%20(Chinese%3A%20%E5%94%90%E9%B3%B3,ten%20greatest%20Taiwanese%20computing%20personalities%22.) ERROR Blender #1-Dawn designed and printed on Blender #2-Dawn designed and printed on BlenderSpecial Guests: Cailean Osborne and Paul Sharratt.Support CHAOSScast

In this discussion, Heather Ellsworth, a Senior Developer Relations Engineer, Wayne Mery, Thunderbird's Community Manager, and Luis Cañas-Díaz, leader at Bitergia, delve into their collaboration on community metrics. They share insights on leveraging Grimoire Lab to enhance community engagement and the importance of data-driven decisions. Wayne reflects on Thunderbird's evolution from Netscape, while Heather emphasizes actionable metrics for community health. Together, they offer advice for open source projects considering similar approaches and share their future aspirations.

Thank you to the folks at Sustain for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast! CHAOSScast – Episode 104 In this episode of CHAOSScast, join our host Harmony along with guests Winifred Young and Oluchi Nwankwo as they dive into their journeys and experiences in the open source community. They discuss their first encounters with open source, their contributions, and the impacts they've made within CHAOSS Africa. They also highlight the importance of effective onboarding, clear documentation, and the need for better marketing strategies in open source communities. Press download to hear more! [00:00:24] Winifred and Oluchi introduce themselves and tell us what they do. [00:01:55] Winifred recounts her initial confusion about open source and her eventual engagement through programs like Google Summer of Code. [00:02:53] Oluchi describes her introduction to open source during a coding bootcamp and meeting Ruth Ikegah, community lead at CHAOSS Africa. [00:04:52] Oluchi talks about her slow start and eventual active involvement in the CHAOSS Africa community through managing social media. [00:06:50] Winifred shares her struggles with joining the community due to her mobility issues and how she became more involved through attending community meetings. [00:09:28] Harmony highlights the importance of attending community meetings as a form of participation and praises newcomers’ hangout for helping new members. [00:11:13] Oluchi reflects on her impactful experience managing CHAOSS Africa’s conference communications in 2018. [00:13:07] Winifred discusses organizing an outreach event for the Disability-Inclusion team, emphasizing how open source has provided her with opportunities to lead and make a difference. [00:16:14] We end with a discussion on the areas for improvement in the community, like better documentation and increased visibility of projects through effective marketing. Value Adds (Picks) of the week: [00:19:50] Oluchi’s pick is to make that switch and see yourself flourish. [00:20:23] Winifred’s pick is to learn how your brain works and don’t be shy to ask for help. [00:21:06] Harmony’s pick is to just take the risk. Panelist: Harmony Elendu Guests: Oluchi Nwankwo Winifred Young Links: CHAOSS CHAOSS Project X CHAOSScast Podcast podcast@chaoss.community Harmony Elendu X Harmony Elendu LinkedIn Oluchi Nwankwo X Oluchi Nwankwo LinkedIn Winifred Young X Winifred Young LinkedIn CHAOSS Project Africa X CHAOSS-Africa GitHub Disability Outreach- Bridging Disability And Technology- CHAOSS Blog Post by Victoria Ottah and Winifred YoungSpecial Guests: Oluchi Nwankwo and Winifred Young.Support CHAOSScast

Miguel Ángel Fernández, a data scientist and GrimoireLab contributor, joins Ed Maste, a long-time FreeBSD committer, and Moin Rahman, a seasoned contributor focused on documentation. They dive into how FreeBSD adopted GrimoireLab to manage its extensive bug backlog and optimize project insights. Discussions reveal the integration challenges and how metrics enhancements have improved bug management and community engagement. The guests share personal growth experiences within the open-source community, showcasing the blend of technology and passion.

Thank you to the folks at Sustain for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast! CHAOSScast – Episode 102 In this episode of the CHAOSScast, host Harmony Elendu shares a special segment titled "20 Minutes with CHAOSS Africa," dedicated to sharing experiences and stories from members of the CHAOSS Africa community. The episode features discussions with guests, Hamza Danjaji and Gift Uhiene, who share their unique journeys into the world of open source and their contributions to the CHAOSS community. The conversation provides insights into the impact of community involvement on personal and professional growth and explores the foundational aspects of open source participation. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:06] Harmony introduces “20 Minutes with CHAOSS Africa” podcast series focusing on encounters with open source and experiences in the CHAOSS Africa community, and our guests introduce themselves. [00:01:21] Hamza recounts his initial exploration of GitHub during university, which sparked his interest in open source by fixing readme files. [00:03:10] Gift’s first open source encounter came in 2020 while learning React, leading her to explore public project contributions and the concept of open source. [00:05:46] Hamza and Gift share how their community onboarding and contributions went, as Hamza shares his early community engagement in university, which evolved into advocacy for open source communities, including CHAOSS Africa. Gift talks about her informal entry into open source contributions, which eventually led her to formally join the CHAOSS community and contribute to documentation and code. [00:08:33] Gift details her initial contributions to CHAOSS and her involvement in educational projects, highlighting personal growth through community engagement, and Hamza shares that his first contribution to CHAOSS was very easy. [00:11:00] Harmony asks Gift and Hamza what they love about the community that makes them keep coming back and contributing. Gift appreciates personal growth and Hamza appreciates the structured communication and welcoming nature of the CHAOSS community meetings, which facilitate both listening and contributing. Value Adds (Picks) of the week: [00:14:24] Harmony’s pick is a repo on GitHub called, ‘Everything-Open-Source.’ [00:15:03] Gift’s pick is to write down your goals. [00:15:26] Hamza’s pick is a repo on GitHub called, ‘First Contributions.’ Panelist: Harmony Elendu Guests: Hamza Danjaji Gift Uhiene Links: CHAOSS CHAOSS Project X CHAOSScast Podcast podcast@chaoss.community Harmony Elendu LinkedIn Harmony Elendu X Gift Uhiene Website Gift Uhiene X Gift Uhiene LinkedIn Hamza Danjaji LinkedIn Everything-Open-Source-GitHub First Contributions-GitHubSpecial Guests: Gift Uhiene and Hamza Danjaji.Support CHAOSScast

Discover the behind-the-scenes workings of a podcast, from how hosts navigate guest scheduling across time zones to their creative topic selection process. Hear personal stories about reviving the show and integrating new team members. The discussion highlights community involvement and the importance of listener feedback. Fun insights into their individual hobbies, like board gaming and 3D printing, showcase the diverse backgrounds of the team. Join them as they emphasize collaboration and sustainability in podcast production.

In this milestone discussion, guests Brian Proffitt, Senior Manager at Red Hat, and Elizabeth Barron, CHAOSS community manager, share insights on the evolution of CHAOSS and its influence on open-source sustainability. Open source strategist Georg Link reflects on the podcast's origins and mission. Ruth Ikegah, Community Lead for CHAOSS Africa, highlights inclusivity efforts. They tackle challenges in the software supply chain and stress the importance of community collaboration, governance, and the role of emerging leaders.

Dawn Foster, Director of Data Science at the CHAOSS Project, shares her insights on the evolving landscape of open-source licensing. She dives into the impacts of re-licensing, from community health to financial implications, while discussing Contributor License Agreements. Dawn highlights the challenges developers face during these transitions and examines the rise of software relicensing. The conversation also touches on the noteworthy organizations supporting open source and humorously compares navigating licensing to driving in England's confusing roundabouts.