The Business of Open Source

Today I talk with Shaun O’Meara, the global field CTO at Mirantis. We begin by discussing the integration of Docker Enterprises with Mirantis approximately three years ago. We discuss the challenges of integrating companies, including incorporating new technology, processes, and customers and merging two very different work cultures. Shaun offers his advice for anyone considering selling to enterprises and emphasizes the role of partnering with customers and becoming part of their process. Shaun talks about the expectations and realities of merging Docker and Mirantis, including the challenges of a licensing model change. We conclude our time by discussing the differences between selling to small companies versus selling to enterprises. Highlights:How integrating Docker Enterprises with Mirantis affected Shaun’s role as CTO (1:09)How incorporating Docker technology helped Mirantis build different value for customers (3:39)We talk about the effects of combining the work cultures of Docker and Mirantis (5:40)Shaun offers advice for people considering start ups or selling to enterprise, including the importance of partnering with customers (8:47)Shaun talks about his expectations of merging Docker and Mirantis versus reality (12:56)We talk about the licensing model change through the transition (14:34)Shaun talks about outsourcing versus what Mirantis does in augmenting and supporting teams (17:55)We discuss the differences between selling to small companies and enterprise (20:06)Links:ShaunLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-omeara/Company: https://www.mirantis.com/

Today I sit down and chat with John McBride, senior software engineer at VMware. We begin by talking about John’s address at KubeCon, “Risks of Single Maintainer Dependencies and How to Mitigate Those Risks.” We discuss the definition of security and then John identifies some of the other non-security risks posed by single maintainer dependency. We talk a little bit about mitigating the risks and about building trust and community around single maintainer projects. We conclude our time by speculating on the extinction of single maintainer dependencies. Highlights:John introduces himself and talks about his interest in mitigating the risks of single maintainer dependencies (00:55)We have a conversation about the definition of security (4:54)John talks about the other, non-security risks of single maintainer dependency (10:00)We discuss how to mitigate the risks of single maintainer dependency (12:04)John talks about building trust and building community around single maintainer projects (16:48)John answers my question “Do you think being a single maintainer is ultimately an anti-pattern, a non best practice?” (23:56)Links:JohnTwitter: @johncodezzzCompany: https://www.vmware.com

Today I talk with Catherine Paganini, Head of Marketing and Community at Buoyant. We begin by discussing the Cloud Native Glossary and how it is helping to make cloud native concepts more accessible for people around the world. Catherine talks about nurturing community in open source projects, and about the function of documentation. Catherine and I discuss pitfalls in building open source communities, and Catherine talks about her strategy for recovering from mistakes. Catherine concludes the conversation by talking about balancing her roles as head of marketing and community at Buoyant.Highlights:Catherine talks about how the Cloud Native Glossary started, how it has grown, and how it helps to make education about the cloud accessible and easy to understand  (1:00)Catherine discusses about how the Cloud Native Glossary is being used (5:47)Catherine and I talk about nurturing community in an open source project (8:22)Catherine discusses empowering end users through efforts like the Linkerd Anchor Program (11:28)Catherine talks about the function of documentation (14:05)I ask Catherine, “What do you see people getting wrong when it comes to nurturing community?” (15:29)Catherine talks about recovering from mistakes (18:49)Catherine discusses walking the line between being head of marketing and head of community (23:47)Links:Cloud Native Glossary: https://glossary.cncf.io/Linkerd: https://linkerd.io/Linkerd Anchor Program: https://linkerd.io/community/anchor/CatherineLinkedIn: Catherine PaganiniTwitter: @cathpagaCompany: https://www.buoyant.io

Today I talk with Yann Léger, CEO of Koyeb, the serverless developer platform that allows businesses to safely and easily deploy applications. We begin by talking about Yann’s decision to base the company on serverless, and the true meaning of cloud native. Yann then discusses Koyeb’s relationship with Kuma, and Koyeb’s posture towards open source projects. The conversation concludes with Yann sharing mistakes he’s learned from in the process of building Koyeb and offering advice to other potential technical founders. Highlights:Yann talks about the decision to leave his position at Scaleway and start his own company (1:44)Yann discusses choosing to base his company on serverless (3:14)Emily and Yann talk about the meaning of cloud native (6:00)Yann talks about Koyeb’s relationship with Kuma (9:40)Yann discusses Koyeb’s open source projects (11:46)Yann shares mistakes he has learned from in the process of building Koyeb (15:25)Yann answers the question “What are the disadvantages of being a technical founder?” (18:06)Emily and Yann discuss the challenges of remote working (22:00)Yann’s advice for anyone considering becoming a technical founder (23:15)Links:YannLinkedIn: Yann LégerTwitter: @yann_eu, @gokoyebCompany: https://www.koyeb.com/

Today I chatted with Dirk Hohndel, chief open source officer at the Cardano foundation. We begin by defining an open source ecosystem, and then talk about what different open source ecosystems might look like and how they are maintained. Dirk talks about best practices for steering an open source ecosystem, and then we discuss the role of foundations in open source projects. I ask “how do you define success for an open source project” and we end with a discussion on the best practices for running open source project foundations.Highlights:We talk about the meaning and maintenance of an open source ecosystem (1:31)The differences between an open source ecosystem and a community (11:06)Dirk talks about best practices for steering an open source ecosystem (13:00)The role of a foundation in an open source project (18:04)Dirk discusses other iterations of open source projects that can be successful (22:19)Dirk answers the question “how do you define success for an open source project?” (24:43)We discuss best practices for running an open source project foundation (27:49)Links:Dirk Twitter: @_dirkhCompany: cardanofoundation.org

Today I sit down with Romaric Philogène, CEO and founder of Qovery, a platform that helps developers build, deploy, run, and scale applications.  Romaric begins by talking about his first two start-ups, both social networks, and then we discuss the difference between creating consumer-facing products and products for developers. We then talk about marketing in the US as it compares to the global market. We discuss Qovary’s relationship to open source and the idea of fostering community around a company’s culture. Romaric concludes by offering advice to developers on the value of being a skilled communicator. Full Description / Show NotesHighlights:Romaric talks about his first two startups that preceded Qovery (3:26)The differences between building a consumer facing product and creating a product for developers (5:55)Romaric talks marketing in the US vs marketing in Europe  (11:50)Romaric answers the question “what are things you’re doing differently now that you’ve learned from previous efforts?” (17:00)The value of community building in marketing to developers (19:28)Qovary’s relationship with open source (20:46)Building community around your company vs just a product (25:00)The importance of communication as an engineer (28:47)Links:RomaricTwitter:@rophilogeneCompany: https://www.qovery.com/

Today I’m chatting with Avery Pennarun, CEO of Tailscale. Tailscale is a VPN service that makes devices and applications accessible anywhere in the world by enabling encrypted point-to-point connections using the open source WireGuard protocol. Avery begins by talking about his experience building a start-up while he was a college student and how things have changed as he leads his current start-up. Avery recommends the book “Crossing the Chasm” and we discuss market segmentation as it relates to creating a successful start-up. Avery explains how Tailscale has been successful in implementing market segmentation strategies. We conclude our conversation by talking about goal setting and the importance of quality.Highlights:Avery talks about his first start-up experience as a college student (1:10)Avery recommends “Crossing the Chasm” and discusses how it influenced his start-ups (7:54)We discuss market segmentation strategy (13:29)Specific marketing strategies used at Tailscale (18:41)Avery talks about mistakes he’s made while building his start-ups (22:24)Goal setting in start-ups (24:42)We talk about the importance of quality in building word of mouth success (29:49)Avery answers the question “How do you maintain an identity as an engineer when you are also a serial entrepreneur?” (33:23)Links:AveryTwitter: @apenwarr @tailscaleCompany: https://www.tailscale.com

Today I chat with Kiersten Gaffney, CMO of Codefresh, a software delivery platform. Kiersten begins by defining her role as CMO. We then discuss the unique challenges of product strategy with open source projects. Kiersten talks about the importance of maintaining both a top-down and bottom-up approach when taking a project from open source to enterprise, and then explains some of the most common mistakes she’s seen when companies undergo this process. We discuss how technical a team should be when marketing open source and conclude the conversation by talking about analysis paralysis in start-ups and how to avoid it. Highlights:Kiersten answers the question “What do CMOs do all day?” (1:49)Product strategy with open source products (2:58)How open source projects fit into marketing efforts (6:10)Kiersten’s advice on how to maintain both a top-down and bottom-up approach (11:28)Is there a magic formula for taking a project from open source to for profit? (13:02)Biggest mistakes when taking a project from open source to enterprise (15:54)Emily asks how technical a marketing team should be for an open source project (22:53)Kiersten and Emily discuss the tension between engineering and marketing (24:24)Analysis paralysis in startups (26:35)Links:KierstenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kierstengaffney/Twitter: @kierstengaffneyCompany: https://codefresh.io/

In this short summation episode, I talked a little more about why I think Deepfence's open source strategy is so genius. 

Today I sat down with Sandeep Lahane, founder and CEO of Deepfence, a security preventive and detective solution for cloud and container native environments. Sandeep began by explaining both the open source and enterprise components of Deepfence. Threatmapper is a multi-cloud platform for scanning, mapping, and ranking vulnerabilities in running containers, images, hosts, and repositories, and Threatstryker is a commercial product that offers runtime attack analysis, threat assessment, and targeted protection for infrastructures and applications. We then talk about the inexhaustibility and the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity. Sandeep explains the impetus for launching Deepfence and the process of getting to Threatmapper and Threatstryker, and then talks about his journey from working as a systems programmer to launching a tech startup. We discuss the tense relationship between security and development in the industry, and end the conversation with some words of advice for engineers considering the entrepreneurial plunge.Highlights:What is the difference between Threatmapper and Threatstryker at Deepfence? (00:55)Sandeep explains how the Deepfence commission product builds upon the open source one (2:14)Discussing the inexhaustibility of the cybersecurity landscape (11:40)The genesis of Deepfence (13:58)Sandeep discusses the business benefits of having an open source project (14:57)Sandeep talks about his journey from systems programmer to tech startup (17:20)Emily and Sandeep discuss the tense relationship between security and development (21:19)Sandeep gives advice to engineers considering entrepreneurship (33:57)Links:Sandeephttps://deepfence.io