Avsnitt

  • GuestSubomi OluwalanaPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesOn today’s episode, Richard engages in a conversation with Subomi Oluwalana, Co-founder and CEO of Convoy, an innovative company specializing in open source Webhooks gateway solutions akin to Kong but focused on Webhooks, with features like rate limiting and circuit breaking. He delves into the intricacies of balancing a genuine open source philosophy with profitability drawing parallels with GitLab’s model and emphasizes the importance of community and transparency in open source projects. The discussion also covers Convoy’s positive reception in Nigeria, Subomi’s distinctive experience with Y Combinator, his thoughts on the evolving perceptions of open source as a business model, and advice for aspiring open source entrepreneurs. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:14] Subomi tells us about Convoy, and he describes Convoy’s service as analogous to Kong but for Webhooks, highlighting its functionalities. [00:01:52] Richard questions Subomi about Convoy’s open source model and what aspects remain proprietary, and he discusses the balance between being genuinely open source and profitable. [00:03:12] The conversation shifts to community importance in open source projects, with Subomi explaining the wide range of developers Convoy serves.[00:04:56] Richard sites Subomi’s blog post on sustainability and questions how Convoy maintains its product market while ensuring the sustainability of its open source project. Subomi speaks on the delicate balance of stewardship in open source, advocating for transparency and a clear understanding between the community and the company. [00:08:07] Richard steers the discussion towards the role of VC funders and Y Combinator’s support for open source projects. Subomi describes Y Combinator’s growing openness to open source companies and the changing perceptions of open source as a viable business model.[00:09:17] The conversation touches upon Subomi’s unique experience as a Nigerian company in Y Combinator, particularly as a DevTools company. [00:11:07] Subomi shares the positive response Convoy has received in Nigeria, detailing their engagement with the local tech ecosystem. [00:11:40] Richard asks for Subomi’s advice for those in the OSCA or developing countries looking to start an open source business. [00:13:06] Find out where you can learn more about Subomi and Convoy on the web.Quotes[00:02:11] “We wanted to be open source, but we also wanted to make money.”[00:05:03] “Open Source is the ultimate form of sustainability. 92% of SaaS companies fail regardless of funding or growth. Failure of your business should not bring down my infrastructure, nor force me to redesign my system architecture when I’m not ready to do so. Providing open source software is the highest form of care for sustainability for your users.”[00:06:57] “It’s very important to be transparent with the community with the direction you are taking. That, in my opinion is the biggest problem that we face as open source founders.”[00:08:15] “Y Combinator has become a good home for open source companies.”[00:09:23] “There hasn’t been any open source DevTools company from Nigeria in YC.”[00:12:32] “The abstractions you think are needed in your organization are most probably needed elsewhere.”LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)Richard Littauer email (mailto:[email protected])Richard Littauer Sustain (mailto:[email protected])Richard Littauer blog email (mailto:[email protected])Subomi Oluwalana X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/subomiOluwalana)Subomi Oluwalana LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/subomi-oluwalana-one/)Convoy (https://getconvoy.io/)Why Open Source? by Subomi Oluwalana (Convoy blog) (https://getconvoy.io/blog/why-open-source) Y Combinator (https://www.ycombinator.com/)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Subomi Oluwalana.

  • GuestCiarán O’RiordanPanelistRichard Littauer | Leslie HawthorneShow NotesIn this episode, host Richard Littauer and co-host Leslie Hawthorne engage with Ciarán O’Riordan, Senior Policy Advisor from Open Forum Europe (OFE), diving into the intricacies of the Cyber Resiliency Act (CRA) and its implications for the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community. Ciarán shares his journey from software development to policy advocacy, emphasizing the critical role of policy work in shaping the future of open source. He provides an in-depth analysis of the CRA, highlighting concerns about its initial draft, the involvement of the FOSS community in shaping its final form, and the potential challenges and opportunities it presents. The discussion also touches on other significant legislative developments in Europe, such as the Product Liability Directive and the AI Act, and their potential effects on open source software. Press download now to hear more![00:01:25] Ciarán explains how he became a Senior Policy Advisor, his passion for policy work, tracing his journey from a software developer in Dublin to his 20-year career in Brussels focusing on policy advocacy, including his recent position at OFE. [00:06:08] Leslie asks Ciarán for a summary of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and its specific implications for the free and open source software ecosystem. Ciarán contrasts the initial and final versions of the CR, detailing the changes made, the lightened obligations for free and open source software, and the ongoing compliance challenges for commercial distributions. [00:11:02] Leslie inquires how software foundation’s responsible for producing commercialized software are impacted by the Cyber Resilience Act. Ciarán explains that the final version of the Act introduces a new category called “Open Source Stewards” for entities like software foundations, which have a reduced set of obligations without fines. He also mentions the timeline for the CRA, stating in will come into force around summertime 2027, after being officially signed. [00:16:09] Richard asks about the CRA’s impact on individual non-European developers, like himself, who have repositories on platforms like GitHub or GitLab. Ciarán responds that the specifics of how the CRA will affect such developers will become clear once the standards are developed. [00:17:55] Ciarán clarifies the role of software foundations is to provide services or procedures for compliance, which may vary across different foundations. [00:19:36] Richard wonders who benefits from this Act, and Ciarán discusses the justification for the CRA, which is cost-based, comparing the cybersecurity costs with compliance costs. [00:21:31] Leslie asks about the process of creating standards for CRA compliance and how average FOSS developers can influence these standards and questions the best ways for FOSS developers to get involved in influencing the outcomes beneficial to the FOSS ecosystem. Ciarán notes that working on standards and policy is complex and compares it to contributing to software development on short notice.[00:26:07] Ciarán discusses OFE’s multi-layered structure and the FOSS community list, which serves as a base for information sharing and connection. [00:27:24] Richard questions the impact CRA on individual developers with numerous dependencies in their projects. Ciarán reassures that there is no immediate cause for panic as the CRA will not come into force until summer 2027 and many details will be clarified in the coming years. [00:28:39] Leslie shifts the discussion the Product Liability Directive (PLD) and its relevance to the FOSS ecosystem and Ciarán goes in depth about it. [00:33:36] Find out where you can learn more about Ciarán and OFE on the web.Quotes[00:04:58] “We’d love to have better cyber security, especially if it just falls from the sky.”[00:22:31] “Working on standards and policy in general is about as complex as working on software development.”[00:24:00] “In terms of getting involved, two important things: First is getting in contact with other people, and the second is the need to do some work on your own initiative without having been brought into some of these groups.”Spotlight[00:35:35] Leslie’s spotlight is the Open Source in The European Legislative Landscape devroom.[00:35:59] Richard’s spotlight is the book, “Better Living Through Birding.”[00:36:42] Ciarán’s spotlight is two books: “Thy Neighbour’s Wife” and “The Life Show.”LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Leslie Hawthorne LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehawthorn/?originalSubdomain=de)Ciarán O’Riordan LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaranor/?originalSubdomain=be)Ciarán O’Riordan- Presentation of the Cyber Resilience Act (YouTube) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuQ-QBNezLg)OpenForum Europe (https://openforumeurope.org/)OpenForum Europe Events (https://openforumeurope.org/events/)OpenForum Europe Open Source (https://openforumeurope.org/open-source/) Open Source Policy Community List (https://groups.google.com/a/openforumeurope.org/g/foss-community)Sustain Podcast-Episode 125: Astor Nummelin Carlberg of OFE on the Economic Impact of Open Source (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/carlberg)Product Liability Directive 1985 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_Liability_Directive_1985)Open Source In The European Legislative Landscape devroom (https://fosdem.org/2024/schedule/track/eu-policy/)Better Living Through Birding: Notes From A Black Man In The Natural World by Christian Cooper (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671722/better-living-through-birding-by-christian-cooper/)[Thy Neighbour’s Wife by Liam O’Flaherty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThyNeighbour%27sWife)The Life Show by Chi Li (https://www.amazon.sg/Life-Show-Chi-Li/dp/7559421903)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Ciarán O'Riordan.

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  • GuestMannie William YoungPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesIn this episode, host Richard invites guest Mannie Young from Ghana’s Python community to share his experiences in open source development. Mannie discusses his role as the Executive Director of the Python Software Community in Ghana and his involvement in organizing PyCon Africa. He provides insights into the significant growth of the Python community in Ghana and the various initiatives under it. He also discusses the Nigerian open source community’s vibrancy, the Python community’s development in Ghana, and reflects on his experiences at OSCA and Sustain events. Mannie touches on cultural differences affecting community sustainability and funding opportunities, and he shares insights on how to get involved with PyCon Africa and Python Ghana, highlighting the new PyClubs initiative. Hit download now to hear more![00:00:59] Mannie mentions his active contribution to the Python software community and his roles as the Executive Director of Python Ghana and organizer of PyCon Africa. [00:02:02] Mannie discusses his experience at OSCA Fest 2023, insights from the Sustain Session, as well as Importance of Documentation in Open Source[00:06:14] Mannie explains the growth of the Python community in Ghana and its various initiatives, like PyLadies Ghana and PyData Ghana.[00:07:11] There’s a discussion about OSCA’s event in Lagos and the Sustain event. Although Mannie was not part of the organizing team this year, he shares some highlights from OSCA including great talks, diversity, and a welcoming environment. He also tells us about the Sustain workshops he attended, focusing on design and community. [00:10:04] The conversation shifts to compare the open source communities in Ghana and Nigeria, with an emphasis on social media presence and advocacy. [00:11:36] Mannie discusses the impact of being reserved on funding and opportunities in the Ghanaian open source community, along with the cultural differences affecting sustainability.[00:012:30] Richard and Mannie address a recent issue with DjangoCon and the PSF regarding discrepancies in approaches to funding and community support, along with cultural and legal considerations in Africa. [00:15:33] Richard inquires about how people can get involved with PyCon Africa, PyCon Ghana, and Mannie’s communities. Mannie explains that preparations for PyCon Africa 2024 are underway and provides contact emails and websites. [00:17:08] Find out where you can follow Mannie and his blog on the web.Quotes[00:11:08] “If you don’t blog about things, no one knows what you were doing.”LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)Mannie Young Website (https://www.mannieyoung.com/)Mannie Young LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mawy7/?originalSubdomain=gh)An Open Letter to the Python Software Foundation (Python Africa) (https://pythonafrica.blogspot.com/2023/12/an-open-letter-to-python-software_5.html)PyCon Ghana (https://gh.pycon.org/) PyClubs (https://www.pyclubs.org/)PyLadies Ghana (https://blog.pythonghana.org/series/pyladies)PyData Ghana (https://blog.pythonghana.org/series/pydata)OSCAfrica (https://oscafrica.org/about-us)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Mannie William Young.

  • GuestNathan SchneiderPanelistRichard Littauer | Leslie HawthorneShow NotesIn this episode of Sustain, host Richard is joined by Leslie Hawthorne, and features a discussion with guest Nathan Schneider, an assistant professor of media studies and the director of the Media Economics Design Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, about his new book,”Governable Spaces: Democratic Design for Online Life.” The conversation explores the motivations of the book, which stems from Nathan’s experiences in running online spaces and his realization of the inadequacies in tools available for practicing democracy in these spaces. Richard, Leslie, and Nathan delve into the historical development of online spaces, the challenges in creating democratic governance online, and the potential impact on global democracy. The discussion also touches on open source sustainability, governance failures and potentials in open-source projects such as Git, and the role of protocols in shaping online communities. Additionally, Nathan argues for diverse forms of governance and shares examples of successes in opensource governance. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:40] Nathan explains the motivation for his book, “Governable Spaces.” [00:05:24] The discussion dives into the concept of the book with Richard questioning the practical existence of such spaces based on the book’s definition. Nathan confirms the book focusses on the absence of democratic infrastructures in digital lives and the lack of support for cooperatives online. [00:09:09] Richard relates the discussion on culture and democracy to media archaeology and questions how this relates to open source sustainability. Nathan acknowledges the importance of the topic and brings up the example of Git to discuss absences in open source governance. [00:13:41] Leslie asks Nathan to elaborate on his views regarding the lack of governance and democratic sharing of responsibilities within the structure that have developed, particularly in open source. Nathan responds by identifying two approaches to this issue. He first addresses the cultural aspect, and then the technical and legal aspects. [00:16:44] Leslie further inquires whether Nathan has considered in his book that the lack of governance could be due to the backgrounds of early internet designers, who were not from marginalized or vulnerable populations and thus did not prioritize governance structures. He talks about the colonization metaphor in the early internet’s language, specifically the term “homesteading,” and how it reflects a flawed understanding of democracy and governance. [00:18:18] Nathan mentions Jo Freeman’s essay, “The Tyranny of Structurelessness,” which warns against the absence of explicit governance leading to the rise of implicit governance by those already privileged. He also emphasizes that despite the dominant structures, there are examples of democratic practices in online spaces, especially among non-dominant identity groups. [00:20:33] Richard questions the robustness of democracy and brings up a point from Nathan’s book that raised some questions to him. He also wonders it was difficult for Nathan to use terms that don’t hold up under scrutiny for his book, and Nathan acknowledges the complexity of the term “feudalism,” and expresses gratitude for medieval governance structures. [00:24:50] Nathan and Richard discuss the topic of crypto, and Richard appreciates how Nathan’s book puts together the chapter on crypto with transformative justice and brings up that the book doesn’t go deep into the specifics of internet protocols. Nathan expresses a strong interest in protocols as a means of social organization and elaborates on the significance of crypto and blockchain protocols in breaking away from traditional centralized models. [00:30:30] Leslie asks Nathan about the Fediverse and federated social networking. Nathan shares his positive view on the Fediverse and discusses his experience co-founding a Mastodon server, acknowledging the potential for creating governable spaces while also recognizing the challenges in ensuring democratic governance. [00:32:40] Find out where you can get Nathan’s book for free and to purchase. Quotes[00:02:52] “The tools we have are really crappy for practicing democracy.”[00:05:57] “While working on this book, I started realizing how much my interest is in what we don’t have, it’s in the absence of our digital lives.”Spotlight[00:33:40] Leslie’s spotlight is her community devroom co-organizers for FOSDEM’24: Shirley Bailes and Laura Czajkowski. [00:34:04] Richard’s spotlight is the Vermont Arts Council. [00:34:32] Nathan’s spotlight is a group called the Exit to Community collective.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Socials (https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials)Leslie Hawthorne LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehawthorn/?originalSubdomain=de)Nathan Schneider Website (https://nathanschneider.info/)Nathan Schneider X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/ntnsndr?lang=en)Governable Spaces-Democratic Design for Online Life by Nathan Schneider (https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520393943/governable-spaces)The Tyranny of Structurelessness by Jo Freeman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tyranny_of_Structurelessness)Start.coop (https://www.start.coop/)FOSDEM ’24 Community devroom (https://fosdem.org/2024/schedule/track/community/)Shirley Bailes LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleybailes/)Laura Czajkowski LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraczajkowski/)Vermont Arts Council (https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/)Exit to Community (https://e2c.how/) CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Nathan Schneider.

  • Guest
    Malvika Sharan
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    In this episode, host Richard has a conversation with guest Malvika Sharan, a senior research associate and open source community manager at The Turing Way. Malvika gives fascinating insights into the journey and rationale behind The Turing Way, which is a data science guide and community collaborative project, seeking to make data science more open, accessible, and inclusive. The Turing Way is also much more than its curated guides, serving as a space for enthusiasts to exchange ideas and contribute to the project. Richard and Malvika dig deep into the importance of effective recognition for contributions, Malvika’s commitment to financial compensation within the constraints of the system, along with the persistence of volunteerism in open source work. Amid her busy year, Malvika is preparing for this chapter of The Turing Way’s journey to enter an exciting 2024 and 2025 phase as they look to engage more directly with organizations that haven’t yet adopted open source collaborative practices advocated by The Turing Way. Press download not to hear more!
    [00:01:17] Malvika explains The Turing Way as a collaborative book project on open science and data science, founded by Kristie Whittaker in 2019, which has evolved significantly with her as co-lead. Also, The Turing Way started as a book on GitHub aimed at making data science more open.
    [00:04:09] Richard clarifies that The Turing Way is a Jupyter book, and Malvika discusses the evolution of The Turing Way and its role in advocating for open source practices within data science projects.
    [00:05:55] Richard asks why there isn’t a specific guide for open source, and Malvika explains that The Turing Way integrates open source principles throughout and addresses concerns about open practices in sensitive areas.
    [00:08:07] Richard inquires about the name, The Turing Way, an Malvika recounts its origin relating to the Alan Turing Institute and the idea of reproducibility.
    [00:09:26] The discussion turns to community involvement in The Turing Way. Malvika talks about different types of community events and how individuals become part of the community through collaboration and self-identification.
    [00:12:15] The concept of “emergent strategy” from the book by Adrienne Maree Brown is explained as an influence on the community aspect of The Turing Way.
    [00:13:13] Richard inquires about the sustainability of The Turing Way as an open source project and its funding and staff structure. Malvika explains that it’s funded by the Alan Turing Institute and discusses the Institute’s support and staff dedicated to the project, including a new project manager.
    [00:16:16] Richard asks how The Turing Way collects feedback and demonstrates its impact on sustainability for projects that use it. Malvika shares experiences of community members using The Turing Way to influence their organizations and mentions collaborations like The Environmental Data Science book project.
    [00:18:03] Malvika talks about how she launched The Turing Way Practitioners Hub to gather and share evidence.
    [00:19:42] Richard questions what it means to adopt The Turing Way, and Malvika clarifies that it refers to adopting the practices of open and collaborative data science.
    [00:20:16] They address the breadth versus depth of The Turing Way’s content and the idea of creating sector-specific resources.
    [00:24:00] Malvika speaks about outreach through talks and workshops, and highlights the diversity of narratives within The Turing Way community, such as activism for
    [00:26:20] Richard notices the lack of Welsh language resources in The Turing Way and wonders why it’s not included. Malvika acknowledges this as a shortcoming due to underrepresentation in the community.
    [00:27:19] How does The Turing Way support careers of its contributors? Malvika talks about the importance of recognition, mentioning the All Contributors Bot for immediate recognition, chairing working groups, and listing significant contributors in the book.
    [00:30:31] Richard asks how The Turing Way supports contributors financially. Malvika stresses the value of volunteerism for skill-building and personal growth. She also talks about The Turing Way’s efforts in compensating contributors through grants and mentions the limitations of institutional funding structures.
    [00:33:58] Malvika tells us where you can find updates and involvement opportunities on The Turing Way, and where you can follow her online.
    Quotes
    [00:05:08] “The project itself is built on a lot of open source technology.”
    [00:06:00] “The Turing Way is a sneaky open source.”
    [00:09:48] “Sometimes it happens that you don’t think you’re a part of a community, but you are part of a community, it’s just someone didn’t tell you that you are part of the community.”
    [00:24:27] “I think of The Turing Way as an extension of digital commons that people should use and fare, but also maintain and support.”
    Spotlight
    [00:35:31] Richard’s spotlight is the Montpelier Library in Montpelier, Ohio.
    [00:36:11] Malvika’s spotlight is Laurah Ondari, a wonderful podcaster, and her podcast, The Science In Real Life.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)
    Malvika Sharan X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/malvikasharan?lang=en)
    Malvika Sharan Website (https://malvikasharan.github.io/)
    The Turing Way (https://the-turing-way.netlify.app/index.html)
    The Turing Way start page (https://the-turing-way.start.page/)
    The Turing Way X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/turingway?lang=en)
    Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown (https://www.amazon.com/Emergent-Strategy-Shaping-Change-Changing/dp/1849352607/ref=asc_df_1849352607/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312519927002&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1321696698792624233&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010767&hvtargid=pla-499608628957&psc=1&mcid=809f2bb32586374195942cf2c6e2aca4&gclid=CjwKCAiAvoqsBhB9EiwA9XTWGfN8LbnCRl97vsL9BOr4CpRodcEJm1tCxlv4gDnFpCXz1DpueMFthoCuQsQAvD_BwE)
    The Alan Turing Institute AI UK (https://www.turing.ac.uk/)
    The Environmental Data Science book-GitHub (https://github.com/alan-turing-institute/environmental-ds-book)
    The Turing Way Practitioners Hub (https://www.turing.ac.uk/turing-way-practitioners-hub)
    Emergent Strategy: Organizing for Social Justice (Forte Labs) (https://fortelabs.com/blog/emergent-strategy-organizing-for-social-justice/)
    All Contributors (https://allcontributors.org/)
    Montpelier Public Library (https://montpelierpubliclibrary.oplin.org/)
    Laurah Ondari LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurah-ondari-749175b6/)
    The Science In Real Life Podcast (https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/the-science-in-real-life-podcast/4513182)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Malvika Sharan.

  • Guest
    Angie Byron
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    Hello and welcome to Sustain! Richard is in Portland at FOSSY, the Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference that is held by the Software Freedom Conservancy. In this episode, we’re joined by Angie Byron, the Director of Community at Aiven, a leading open source data platform. Angie brings us insights from her role overseeing 11 open source projects, explaining how they provide managed services and security updates for several data projects, and highlighting the importance of prioritizing by impact. She also gives us a peek into their “start at the end” exercise used for goal setting and talks about the challenges of transparency and confidentiality in open source projects. Tune in now and download this episode to hear more!
    [00:00:39] Angie explains that Aiven is an open source data platform that provides managed services and security updates for several open source data projects such as Apache Kafka, MySQL, Postgres, Redis, and Grafana.
    [00:01:30] Angie shares that she’s the Director of Community at Aiven and has been there for a couple of months. She talks about her role as a meta community manager, overseeing 11 open source projects with a small team.
    [00:02:32] There’s a discussion by Angie on the importance of prioritizing by impact and empowering community members, and she explains the “start at the end” exercise she uses for setting their goals, and she explains using the Open Practice Library, which is a division of Red Hat.
    [00:07:17] Richard asks about the challenges of balancing transparency and confidentiality in open source projects. Angie shares that they’re working on a public-facing version of a roadmap with an ideation system.
    [00:08:23] Angie discusses three main goals of their work: increasing revenue, reducing costs, and mitigating risk.
    [00:09:59] Angie explains that she internalizes achievement by helping others grow, thrive, and accomplish their goals, with her success and that of her team tied to the success of others.
    [00:11:24] Find out where you can learn more about Aiven’s community efforts, and where you can learn more about Angie online.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Twitter (https://twitter.com/richlitt?lang=en)
    Software Freedom Conservancy (https://sfconservancy.org/)
    Open OSS (https://openoss.sourceforge.net/)
    Angie Byron Tech Blog (https://openpracticelibrary.com/)
    Angie Byron Twitter (https://twitter.com/webchick)
    Angie Byron LinkedIn (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/webchick?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F)
    Angie Byron Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@webchick)
    Aiven (https://aiven.io/)
    Open Practice Library (https://openpracticelibrary.com/)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Angie Byron.

  • Guest
    Bolaji Ayodeji
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    In this episode, host Richard has a conversation with and guest, Bolaji Ayodeji, Software Engineer, Content Creator, Community Engineer, and an organizer of the OSCA (Open Source Community Africa), the biggest open source conference in Africa. Bolaji highlights the Sustain conference at OSCA, emphasizing the recent summit’s wide range of workshops, significant attendance, and the introduction of new working groups, particularly in mental health and data science. The importance of self-care and workload management in the open source community is a key topic, and Bolaji shares some strategies to maintain physical health while functioning in high-demand roles. Looking forward, they are making plans for the 2024 festival with a hope of attracting a more diverse group of attendees! Hit download now to hear more!
    [00:01:20] Bolaji tells us OSCA’s been around four years, with the conference itself being three years old, and he mentions the first Sustain in Africa happened in 2020, following the one in Belgium.
    [00:02:00] The conversation shifts to the Sustain conference at OSCA, which includes a variety of workshops. Bolaji details this year’s Sustain summit, the duration of the event, the number of working groups, and attendance.
    [00:03:25] Bolaji describes the format of the sessions at Sustain, his role with the timer, and the facilitation process.
    [00:04:21] Richard appreciates the work put into organizing the event and Bolaji shares his excitement about introducing new working groups focused on areas like mental health and data science.
    [00:06:33] Bolaji explains that the reports from the event are being prepared and will be published on the SustainOSS website.
    [00:07:19] The conversation turns to the challenge of organizing workshops on burnout and the focus of these sessions. Bolaji talks about the burnout and mental health session, discussing the importance of self-care and managing workload.
    [00:09:35] Richard and Bolaji discuss the scale of OSCA and the proportion of attendees who contribute to open source as a full-time job versus a side project.
    [00:10:31] Bolaji provides a few tips on maintaining wellbeing while contributing to open source, including prioritizing tasks, having a life outside work, and ensuring rest and relaxation.
    [00:12:44] Richard asks Bolaji about any surprises from the Sustain sessions, and he notes that there was a varied interest in different working groups, with more interest in some than others.
    [00:14:18] Will there be future events coming up? Bolaji confirms that there will be another Open Source Festival and Sustain Summit in 2024, but no specific details yet.
    [00:14:38] If you can’t attend but want to be involved, Bolaji mentions the Open Source Community Africa Discord server where the discussions continue, where the report will be shared, and he talks about volunteering opportunities.
    Quotes
    [00:06:01] “Sustainability is not just about the project itself, it’s about the people who manage the projects.”
    [00:07:37] “You’re already burnt out form your normal job, and then you have to figure how to contribute to open source.”
    [00:11:32] “Sometimes you need to touch the grass.”
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    GitHub Sustainers Website (https://github.com/sustainers/website)
    Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)
    Bolaji Ayodeji X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/iambolajiayo)
    Bolaji Ayodeji LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/iambolajiayo/)
    Bolaji Ayodeji Website (https://www.bolajiayodeji.com/)
    SustainOSS Events (https://sustainoss.org/events/)
    Open Source Community Africa Discord (https://discord.com/invite/open-source-community-africa-676252299093475348)
    OSCA Community (https://oscafrica.org/community)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Bolaji Ayodeji.

  • GuestsKarthik Ram | James HowisonPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesIn this captivating episode of Sustain, host Richard welcomes returning guest, Karthik Ram, Senior Research Scientist at the Berkeley Institute for Data Science, and his colleague James Howison, an Associate Professor from the School of Information at the University of Texas, Austin. Today, they delve into their recent research report, “‘Research Software Visibility Infrastructure Priorities,” commissioned for the Australian Research Data Commons. They discuss their eight key recommendations about sustaining open source for the long haul, including ways to recognize software contribution, implement web analytics, and offer low friction ways for researchers to link software. Karthik and James also touch on the future of software citations in academic recognition systems, and the importance of universities valuing diverse academic outputs. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation! Press download now! [00:01:36] Richard brings up a paper written by Karthik and James. Karthik explains the report titled, “Research Software Visibility Infrastructure Priorities,” produced for the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC). He describes the process of creating the report and the report’s relevance beyond Australia.[00:06:24] Richard asks how this is related to open source, and James relates the recommendations, focusing on citing software in publications and creating software bill of materials for research papers. [00:08:02] James and Karthik discuss recommendations, focusing on citing software in publications and creating software bill of materials for research papers.[00:12:02] Richard endorses the use of SBOMs for citing all software used in research, aiming to counter the issue of only popular projects getting noticed, but he questions how SBOMs account for the varying importance of different software dependencies. Karthik clarifies the SBOMs are not meant to create equal value citations for all software but to understand the scientific infrastructure that supports research. [00:15:28] Richard suggests that SBOMs could be useful in industrial contexts for security purposes and infrastructure visibility. Karthik agrees, stating that SBOMs have a broader application and were originally created for security reasons to track vulnerabilities. [00:17:41] James introduces the third recommendation to create software use infrascope as an observatory based on software mentions publications. He discusses the challenge of identifying software mentions in publications and the work done towards building comprehensive view of software in academia. [00:22:34] Karthik introduces the fourth recommendation to create detailed use cases for research tools aimed at different skill levels, addressing the challenge researchers face when selecting software tools. [00:24:29] Richard highlights the necessity of allocating time in research planning for writing documentation and tutorials, which James agrees is crucial for making software tools more accessible to researchers. [00:26:30] James discusses the fifth recommendation, which is to support existing technology for software archiving, such as Zenodo or Software Heritage, rather than creating new repositories at the institutional level. [00:28:28] Karthik talks about sixth recommendation and supporting communities of practice like hackathons and other collaborative spaces, which have shown to have a positive impact on research productivity. James describes the need for third spaces that are neither too local nor too public. Where researchers can comfortably ask questions and share insights within a focused community. [00:31:08] James introduces the seventh recommendation which is about implementing web analytics to gain insights into software usage, as citations alone do not reflect the full impact of research software. [00:33:48] James acknowledges the need for infrastructure to enhance insight from SBOMs and mentions the necessity of funding to maintain services that provide such data. [00:35:53] Richard highlights the eighth recommendation, which suggests providing an easy way for researchers to link to software alongside data submissions. James directs listeners to the Softcite GitHub organization and mentions the upcoming blog post about their report on the URSSI Blog. [00:36:16] Karthik and James tell us where you can find out more about their work and find them on the web. Quotes[00:08:40] “Absolutely every piece of software that you use in your whole stack should be cited, but I’ve had some issues with that in publications.”[00:09:04] “What we identified was that different fields have different norms for what rises to the level of contribution for actually being mentioned formally in the publication.” [00:14:40] “The researchers are experts in scientific explanation and they’re going to pick packages to mention that pertain to understanding the research that’s done in the paper, whereas the SBOM is going to give us insight into the software infrastructure that made the research possible.” Spotlight[00:38:26] Richard’s spotlight is iNaturalist.[00:39:00] Karthik’s spotlight is Kyle Niemeyer at Oregon State. [00:39:34] James’s spotlight is Eva Brown and her Council Data Project.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)Karthik Ram Website (https://ram.berkeley.edu/)Karthik Ram LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthik-ram-93334954/)Karthik Ram X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/_inundata)James Howison X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/jameshowison)James Howison-University of Texas, Austin (https://www.ischool.utexas.edu/people/people-details?PersonID=175) Research Software Visibility Infrastructure Priorities Report by Dr. Karthik Ram and Dr. James Howison (Zenodo) (https://zenodo.org/records/10060255)Sustain Podcast-2 Episodes featuring Daniel Stenburg (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/stenberg)Sustain Podcast-Episode 187: Karthik Ram on Research Software Sustainability (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/ram)Depsy (http://depsy.org/)Softcite dataset (https://github.com/howisonlab/softcite-dataset)Softcite software mention recognition service (https://github.com/softcite/software-mentions)Softcite-GitHub (https://github.com/softcite/)SoMeSci-Software Mentions in Science (https://data.gesis.org/somesci/)Mapping the Impact of Research Software in Science (https://github.com/chanzuckerberg/software-impact-hackathon-2023)The Scientific Community Image Forum (Frequently Asked Questions) (https://forum.image.sc/t/frequently-asked-questions/18729)HackyHour (https://hackyhour.github.io/)Sustain Podcast-Episode 95: Marko Saric of Plausible Analytics, the most popular Open Source analytics platform (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/95)URSSI Blog (https://urssi.us/blog/)Ecosyste.ms (https://ecosyste.ms/)Incentives and integration in scientific software production by James Howison and James D. Herbsleb (https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2441776.2441828)Python Package Citation Generator-GitHub (https://github.com/RichardLitt/dependency-cite)iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/)Kyle Niemeyer (https://engineering.oregonstate.edu/people/kyle-niemeyer)Eva Brown GitHub (https://evamaxfield.github.io/)Council Data Project (https://councildataproject.org/)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guests: James Howison and Karthik Ram.

  • Guest
    Heather Meeker
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    In this episode, host Richard Littauer welcomes renowned author and open source lawyer, Heather Meeker, in our first venture into video format. Heather discusses her journey from being a ‘big law’ lawyer to focusing specifically on open source matters. She talks about her latest book, From Project to Profit: How to Succeed in Commercial Open Source, and the valuable insights it provides for entrepreneurs and developers looking to transform their open source projects into successful businesses. The conversation also delves into the significance of open source, economic analysis, and the mission of the Open Source Initiative. We end with Heather sharing her all-time favorite open source project, Audacity, and why she thinks it’s a perfect example of an exquisite open source project. Press download to hear more!
    [00:01:49] Heather talks about her current practice and how she’s focusing on open source matters after leaving big law firms, driven by pandemic induced life choices, and she touches on her involvement with AI related issues.
    [00:04:18] Richard asks about Heather’s transition to writing for the public, and she details her journey of writing articles since the late 90’s and the process of creating her books.
    [00:06:41] We hear about Heather’s book, From Project to Profit, and it’s focus on the business potential of open source. She discusses the audience and motivation behind the book.
    [00:10:17] Heather describes the book’s layout: case studies, economic analysis, business models, and a final checklist for starting an open source business.
    [00:11:31] We learn about the checklist and the thought process behind starting an open source business.
    [00:13:18] Heather acknowledges that there are suggestions beyond VC funding, relating it to family businesses, which may not grow large but can provide a living and enjoyment. She tells us the book discusses setting realistic goals for open source projects and understanding when it’s appropriate to seek professional investment.
    [00:15:39] Richard talks about community projects that aim to be sustainable without necessarily seeking significant investments. Heather explains most small open source projects start as labors of love and discusses the motivations behind starting such projects, and she notes the commitment required to build a business.
    [00:19:16] Richard inquires about the fund that invests in open source projects. Heather describes OSS Capital, focusing on early-stage commercial open source software development, unique in its dedicated investment thesis.
    [00:21:15] Heather shares that the fund often approaches founders proactively, differing from traditional VC operations.
    [00:22:21] Richard is curious about equitable payment for contributors in open source projects, and Heather states they prefer to fund companies started by the projects' founders and describes the dynamic between contributors and the core team.
    [00:25:03] What was the toughest section of the book to write? Heather reveals the economic analysis was difficult as it required refreshing her knowledge and ensuring accuracy. She also didn’t mention specific economists but focused on basic economic principles.
    [00:28:15] Richard asks about common pitfalls in open source projects. Heather points out that mistakes in start-ups are not unique to open source and expands on the issue of companies taking code private due to misaligned investor interests.
    [00:31:15] Richard questions if misaligned investors are a by-product of capitalism, and Heather believes it’s possible to sustainably create value with open source without prioritizing it.
    [00:32:08] Richard asks what “open source” means to OSS Capital, and Heather explains that for their fund, open source means the core product is under a recognized open source license. She discusses the challenge of defining open source for non-software fields like AI and data.
    [00:35:31] Find out where you can buy Heather’s book and follow her online.
    Quotes
    [00:11:44] “One of the initial decisions that someone asked me is that they actually want to run a business around an open source project and that’s a non-trivial decision.”
    [00:31:24] “I do think it’s possible to run a business sustainably, create a ton of value with the open source projects, and never take it private.”
    Spotlight
    [00:37:33] Richard’s spotlight is the book, Man’s Search for Meaning.
    [00:38:10] Heather’s spotlight is one of her favorite authors, Primo Levi, and some books he wrote, The Periodic Table and Survival in Auschwitz. Also, another book she read called, Games Mother Never Taught You, and the open source project, Audacity.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)
    Heather Meeker X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/HeatherMeeker4?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    Heather Meeker Website (https://heathermeeker.com/)
    Heather Meeker LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermeeker/)
    Heather Meeker YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/HeatherMeekerOpenSourceLicensing/videos)
    [From Project to Profit: How to Build a Business Around Your Open Source Project by Heather Meeker](https://www.amazon.com/Project-Profit-Business-Around-Source/dp/B0CKMKMFH5/ref=sr11?crid=371EUHUERWTB3&keywords=From+project+to+profit&qid=1700960660&s=books&sprefix=from+project+to+profit%2Cstripbooks%2C76&sr=1-1)
    Sustain Podcast-Episode 46: Commercial Open Source with Joseph Jacks (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/joseph-jacks)
    [Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27sSearchforMeaning)_
    Primo Levi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo_Levi)
    The Periodic Table by Primo Levi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Periodic_Table_(short_story_collection))
    Survival In Auschwitz by Primo Levi (https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Auschwitz-Primo-Levi/dp/1492942588)
    Games Mother Never Taught Me by Betty Lehan Harragan (https://www.amazon.com/Games-Mother-Never-Taught-You/dp/0446357030)
    Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org/)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Heather Meeker.

  • Guest
    Mohammed Shah
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    In this episode, host Richard engages in a conversation with guest Mohammed Shah about open source sustainability and the significant challenges faced by open source maintainers. Mohammed shares his background as a full-stack developer and discusses his involvement in a project aimed at reducing prediabetes risk using a WhatsApp chatbot. The discussion delves into the WhatsApp chatbot project, potential violations of WhatsApp’s terms of service, and the unique license used. Mohammed recounts the distressing experience of receiving cease and desist letters, leading to his decision to step down as the project’s maintainer. Richard and Mohammed explore the difficulties faced by open source maintainers and the need for collective representation, including the idea of forming an open source developer union. Mohammed also tells us about a climate-related initiative he’s working on and a website he set up called CVE.Earth, for tracking corporate environmental destruction. Press download now to hear more!
    [00:01:03] Mohammed introduces himself as a full-stack developer and talks about his involvement in a project called Antler, aimed at reducing the risk of prediabetes in specific communities using a WhatsApp chatbot.
    [00:02:55] Mohammed explains the project, which involved creating a CLI tool that allows users to interact with their own WhatsApp accounts programmatically.
    [00:04:02] The discussion touches on the potential violation of WhatsApp terms of service and how many projects in the space could be in violation.
    [00:06:19] Richard asks about the license Mohammed used to put this code up. He explains the unique license he sued for the project, which allows for specific purposes but not for nefarious activities, and Richard mentions Mohammed’s Hippocratic + Do Not Harm License.
    [00:07:35] Mohammed describes the distressing experience of receiving cease and desist letters which led him to step down as the project’s maintainer.
    [00:09:27] Richard discusses the stress and challenges open source maintainers face when receiving cease and desist letters and the lack of resources to respond effectively.
    [0011:05] Mohammed shares that the project is on hold, and he cannot transfer it to others due to the legal risk.
    [00:12:24] We hear Mohammed’s idea of forming an open source developer union to deal with unique legal cases affecting a small group of developers but with broader implications. This union could help address legal challenges and protect open source developers. He emphasizes the need for collective power in the open source community, like other worker unions or collectives that have the ability to advocate for the rights of their members.
    [00:13:58] Mohammed expresses that he wishes he had not put himself at risk with the project but defends open source work as a valid and important endeavor. He believes in the significance of open source work and its impact on a wide range of people.
    [00:15:22] The discussion delves into the role of large tech companies as gatekeepers and how they exert control over access to their APIs. Mohammed suggests that these companies should provide APIs as public infrastructure for interoperability.
    [00:17:54] Mohammed mentions a new project related to climate and corporate environmental responsibility that he’s been working on, and a website he set up called CVE.Earth, for tracking corporate environmental destruction.
    [00:18:58] Find out where you can reach out to Mohammed on the web.
    Spotlight
    [00:19:46] Richard’s spotlight is Tom ‘spot’ Callaway, an awesome developer.
    [00:20:36 Mohammed’s spotlight is two books: The Creative Act: A Way of Being and Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)
    Mohammed Shah X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/smashah)
    CVE.Earth (https://github.com/cve-earth)
    Antler (https://www.antler.co/location/uk)
    Hippocratic + Do Not Harm (H-DNH) Version 1.1 by Mohammed Shah (https://github.com/open-wa/wa-automate-nodejs/blob/master/LICENSE.md)
    Tom ‘spot’ Callaway X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/spotfoss?lang=en)
    Sustain Podcast-Episode 52 with special guest Tom ‘spot’ Callaway (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/52)
    [The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin](https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Act-Way-Being/dp/0593652886/ref=sr11?crid=3VGIE0RNOVS5C&keywords=the+creative+act+a+way+of+being+rick+rubin&qid=1699493662&sprefix=the+creative+way+of+%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1)
    [Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy by Claire Provost and Matt Kennard](https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Coup-Corporations-Overthrew-Democracy/dp/1350269980/ref=sr11?crid=12KE5RMRR8JYK&keywords=the+silent+coup&qid=1699493384&sprefix=the+silent+coup%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Mohammed Shah.

  • Guest
    Joseph Castle
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    In this episode, Richard welcomes Joe Castle, Executive Advisor for Strategic Partnerships and Technology at SAS, and he was previously featured on an episode in the FOSSY 2023 series podcasts. Today, they engage in conversations about various aspects of open source and Code.gov, exploring its history, budget changes, and challenges. Joe provides an overview of SAS Institute, its role in analytics and AI software, and its presence in the federal government. The discussion dives into the federal source code policy, its key aspects, and the allocation of the federal IT budget. They explore the idea of making government source code open source and the challenges associated with it, and there’s a discussion on the importance of supporting open source projects and various initiatives in different countries and labs. Press download now to hear more!
    [00:01:23] Joe gives us an overview of SAS Institute, its focus on analytics and AI software, and its presence in the federal government and other sectors.
    [00:02:08] Joe talks about his background and how he became an advocate for open source software, especially Python, in both personal and professional context. He discusses his role at SAS, which involves promoting open source integration and education.
    [00:06:41] We learn about the history of Code.gov, which was born out of the U.S. federal source policy in 2016, and then Joe explains the three key aspects of the federal source code policy: creating a source code policy, updating acquisition language, and publishing an inventory of source code, including at least 20% as open source software.
    [00:10:03] Richard mentions the size of the federal IT budget and asks about the allocation of the remaining 93% of the budget. Joe explains that the 93% of the budget goes towards labor, infrastructure, commodity IT, and various IT-related expenses.
    [00:14:31] Richard inquires about the availability of a manifest listing all open source packages on Code.gov, and Joseph explains that Code.gov provides agency inventories of their source code, and each agency can decide what to include or exclude from the list based on various factors, including security.
    [00:16:31] Joe discusses his involvement with Code.gov, which started when he worked at the White House and volunteered to help implement the federal source code policy.
    [00:19:21] Richard asks about the budget for Code.gov and its changes over the years and Joe clarifies that Code.gov had a budget of about a million dollars a year for platform, staff, and related expenses.
    [00:20:09] Joe discusses the rise and fall of Code.gov, including policy changes and a decrease in funding, resulting in downsizing and limited maintenance of the website and code.
    [00:22:30] The role of the CIO at OMB is brought up and Joe explains that the focus of the federal CIO can shift with changing priorities and administrations.
    [00:23:23] Richard asks about how to reinvigorate Code.gov and whether it’s possible to influence the CIO to prioritize it. Joe mentions an interaction with a Senate committee staffer and suggests that getting attention from key decision-makers is essential for pushing such initiatives.
    [00:27:34] Richard wonders if there are any internal efforts to track multiple contracts for the same vendors and improve code management. Joe tells us he’s not aware of specific internal efforts but mentions the existence of similar projects in other places.
    [00:31:47] Joe notes that there weren’t discussions about financially supporting open source projects at Code.gov, and the focus was on making the code available to the public and raising awareness of its existence.
    [00:32:52] Richard discusses the importance of supporting open source projects used by the government and mentions governmental efforts like the Sovereign Tech Fund in Germany. Joe talks about how certain agencies and labs, such as NASA and the Department of Energy, fund open source projects. He also mentions that he once considered making Code.gov an open source project separate from the government but didn’t proceed with the idea, and he mentions the GitHub Government website.
    [00:37:06] Find out where you can follow Joe on the internet.
    Quotes
    [00:07:06] “Code.gov was born out of the U.S. Federal source code policy.”
    [00:18:37] “It’s basically holistically the OSPO for the U.S. federal government.”
    Spotlight
    [00:37:45] Richard’s spotlight is a book series he read called, Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer.
    [00:38:27] Joe’s spotlight is some great books he read: The Work by Wes Moore, Still Standing by Larry Hogan, and Bridgebuilders by William D. Eggers and Donald F. Kettl.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)
    Joseph Castle Twitter (https://twitter.com/jrcastle_vt)
    Joseph Castle, PhD LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrcastle/)
    Sustain Podcast-Episode 197: FOSSY 2023 with Joe Castle (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/197)
    SAS (https://www.sas.com/en_us/home.html)
    Code.gov (https://code.gov/)
    Data.gov (https://data.gov/)
    Defense Finance and Accounting Service (https://www.dfas.mil/)
    U.S. Department of Defense (https://www.defense.gov/)
    GitHub and Government (https://government.github.com/)
    Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Jack_(novel))
    The Work: Searching for a Life That Matters by Wes Moore (https://www.amazon.com/Work-Searching-Life-That-Matters/dp/081298384X)
    [Still Standing: Surviving Cancer, Riots, a Global Pandemic, and the Toxic Politics That Divide America by Larry Hogan](https://www.amazon.com/Still-Standing-Surviving-Pandemic-Politics/dp/B08CFVK3VK/ref=sr11?)
    Bridgebuilders: How Government Can Transcend Boundaries to Solve Big Problems by William D. Eggers and Donald F. Kettl (https://www.amazon.com/Bridgebuilders-Government-Transcend-Boundaries-Problems-ebook/dp/B0B5Y8XZKR)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Joseph Castle, PhD.

  • GuestDr. Laura DornheimPanelistRichard LittauerShow NotesOn today’s episode of Sustain, Richard welcomes Dr. Laura Dornheim, the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of the city of Munich, who discusses her coding background, role as the CDO, and Munich’s digital initiatives. The conversation dives into Munich’s past experience with the Linux based LiMux project, and its strong support for open source today. Dr. Dornheim’s balanced approach to open source, collaborations with Berlin, and the city’s open source code publication are highlighted. The discussion covers Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund, tech understanding, and the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act. Dr. Dornheim shares her perspective on dealing with challenges in her role, her optimism, and the importance of public money and public code. Hit download now to hear more! [00:01:17] Dr. Dornheim clarifies her coding experience and that she learned to code at a young age but never worked as a developer. [00:02:40] Dr. Dornheim explains her role as the CDO of Munich, being responsible for all tech in the city, overseeing various digital initiatives, and moving towards a smarter city.[00:03:55] She discusses the city’s interactions with its citizens, such as applying for passports or changing addresses through online services, and she mentions their current project of creating a digital twin of the city.[00:06:00] The discussion shifts to the role of open source in the city of Munich, as Laura talks about Munich’s ambitious open source project to replace Microsoft Office with Linux (LiMux) and its subsequent return to Microsoft. [00:08:54] We hear Dr. Dornheim’s approach to open source, emphasizing a balanced perspective and bridging the gap between open source supporters and opponents. She highlights successful open source implementations in the city, such as open source tools for online forms and appointment scheduling at the citizen’s office, developed collaboratively with Berlin. [00:12:00] Richard asks about the breakdown of services that could be seen as state or federal level I the U.S. compared to Munich. Dr. Dornheim explains that in Germany, services like applying for passports are managed a local level, with 11,000 communities responsible for such processes.[00:15:17] Richard asks how Munich ensures that the open source software it uses can be contributed to by external individuals or entities. Dr. Dornheim mentions launching an open source sabbatical to pay individuals to work on open source projects, promoting more external contributions. She also tells us where Munich’s open source code is published, primarily on GitHub and the Code platform launched by the public administration in Germany.[00:17:42] Richard inquires about the potential for other states to contribute to Munich’s open source projects, and Dr. Dornheim explains that they have both fully open projects and smaller ones that are published but may not receive external contributions. [00:19:15] Dr Dornheim addresses a question Richard brings up about Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund and the push for self-sufficiency in tech. She views it as a marketing strategy for open source, emphasizing the importance of reducing dependency on a few big players. [00:21:10] Richard mentions the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act and inquires about the concerns related to liability in open source software, and Dr. Dornheim emphasizes that the problem isn’t liability but the ability to address issues and vulnerabilities. [00:22:46] What are some things that Dr. Dornheim is struggling with? She shares some difficulties they face such as dealing with 800 schools and day care places that run their own services, and the challenge of transitioning local politicians away from paper-based processes.[00:26:13] Dr. Dornheim mentions that she came to open source through her engagement in politics around digital and tech issues, emphasizing the importance of public money and public code. [00:26:55] Find out where can you interact with the City of Munich’s digital office.Quotes[00:06:57] “If you try to brute force 40,000 people to an operating system that they’re not used to not only make friends, let’s put in that way.”[00:07:42] “Today, open source is more alive and more supported in the city of Munich than ever. We have our own OSPO that we’re building up and growing.”[00:16:00] “We are launching an open source sabbatical where we really want to pay people wherever they are currently employed.”[00:18:44] “The whole aim behind open software is to make public administration more transparent and interactive because I really think it’s important that we lower this perceived barrier between the people and the state.”Spotlight[00:28:02] Richard’s spotlight is Raphaël Nussbaumer, and eBird reviewer in Switzerland.[00:28:42] Dr. Dornheim’s spotlight is Miriam Seyffarth from the Open Source Business Alliance in Berlin.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt) Dr. Laura Dornheim LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lsdornheim/?originalSubdomain=de)München Digital (https://muenchen.digital/)City of Munich-GitHub (https://github.com/it-at-m)LiMux (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiMux#:~:text=LiMux%20was%20a%20project%20launched,free%20software%20based%20on%20Linux.)Sovereign Tech Fund (https://sovereigntechfund.de/en/)EU Cyber Resilience Act (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/cyber-resilience-act)Zoziologie-Raphaël Nussbaumer (https://zoziologie.raphaelnussbaumer.com/)Miriam Seyffarth LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-seyffarth-819691b1/?originalSubdomain=de)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Dr. Laura Dornheim.

  • GuestChad WhitacrePanelistsRichard Littauer | Abby Cabunoc Mayes | Leslie Hawthorne | Justin DorfmanYouTubeFor this episode, we also recorded video! You can watch here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b3guhtE8-0). Show NotesIn this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer is joined co-hosts Abby, Leslie, and Justin to talk with special guest, Chad Whitacre, co-founder of SustainOSS and Sentry’s Head of Open Source. Today, Chad sheds light on Sentry’s contributions in open source funding programs, the challenges, successes, and plans for progression. Chad also introduces FOSS Funder, a platform encouraging companies to give back to open source and shares his unique approach to business cards that has left a tangible imprint on the community. Hit download now to hear more! [00:01:47] Chad is introduced, we hear his history with open source platforms and Sentry’s programs for community engagement, compliance, and funding. [00:02:30] Justin asks Chad about changes since his last appearance, particularly Sentry’s 150k open source funding initiative, and Chad describes Sentry’s journey, the systematic approach to funding open source projects, and the growth of Sentry’s annual funding program from 150k to 500k.[00:06:03] Justin interjects with a question about the math used to determine funding, leading Chad to reflect on the economic value of open source and the sense of unfairness in the community about companies not giving back. He continues to explain the reasoning behind funding figures. [00:08:35] The conversation turns to defining the right amount to give, with discussions on per-engineer contributions and industry metrics for sponsorship. [00:11:02] Richard asks about Sentry’s employee count, office locations, and if they pay a living wage, to which Chad confirms they do, and details Sentry’s office distribution and company policies. [00:11:50] Richard raises a question about the focus of Sentry’s financial contributions, wondering if open source practitioners are the most appropriate recipients compared to other groups, and Chad states that Sentry does have contractors and they are paid adequately. He emphasizes that Sentry’s founders come from open an open source background, and the company still views itself as aligned with open source values. [00:14:00] Chad clarifies that when Sentry gives money to open source, it’s viewed as giving back for value received. He draws a distinction between charitable giving and investing in software, suggesting that the open source funding program is more about paying for the value received from open source software rather than charity. [00:17:23] Chad speaks about the provision of public goods, touching on taxes and shame as mechanisms, and the role of corporate social validation. [00:18:38] Leslie raises concern about the divestment from open source by corporations and the impact on the open source maintainer ecosystem. Chad discusses the multiple roles of OSPOs beyond funding and the cultural importance of open source at Sentry, and he tells the story of Sentry’s attempt to support every project on GitHub through GitHub sponsors and the challenges encountered. [00:22:57] Chad acknowledges the effort required to sponsor every project, mentioning the help of thanks.dev crew and the need for better tools to simplify the process. He also introduces FOSS Funders, a platform started by Dwayne O’Brien, and explains the group’s activities and its Slack community. [00:27:25] Abby inquires about how companies can join FOSS Funders and get their logos featured. Chad details how companies can participate in FOSS Funders through platforms, and the next phases of FOSS Funders. [00:29:12] Abby shares how her and Chad met and making his special business cards which are pennies with a logo punched into them. [00:32:14] Find out where you can learn more about Chad and his work on the web. He also touches on the connection and the need for honest conversations about sustainability in the community. Quotes[00:05:26] “The open source community is not monolithic.”[00:06:42] “There’s all these idealistic youths who put all of this software out there into the world, and then waking up ten years later totally burned out because they poured themselves out writing all this open source software.”[00:09:20] “We need other companies to join us.”[00:09:44] “We also need a better name for the non-commercial, sponsorable part of the community.”[00:09:57] “Let’s make this real, let’s make this sustainable.”[00:10:06] “It needs to be weird for companies not to do what Sentry is doing.”[00:12:43] “If we’re going to do this Pledge1%, giving to open source is part of that.”[00:13:09] “Open source is core to our company culture. And also, we’ve been there.” [00:14:40] “Personal opinion: I think this line-item should be software, and not charity.”[00:15:38] “Public goods are IOR: Invest On Return.” [00:17:29] “Public goods are provisioned in two ways: taxes or shame.” [00:23:00] “We need to start telling stories about the companies that are doing it.”Spotlight[00:34:08] Richard’s spotlight is the book, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. [00:34:44] Leslie’s spotlight is the Sovereign Tech Fund. [00:35:12] Abby’s spotlight is The Wheel of Time audiobooks. [00:35:45] Justin’s spotlight is the great city of Los Angeles. [00:35:57] Chad’s spotlight is to commemorate Bram Moolenaar, author of VIM.LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)Abby Cabunoc Mayes X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/abbycabs?lang=en)Justin Dorfman X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/jdorfman?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)Chad Whitacre Website (https://chadwhitacre.com/)Chad Whitacre X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/chadwhitacre_)Sentry (https://sentry.io/welcome/)FOSS Funders (https://fossfunders.com/)Duane O’Brien LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/duaneobrien/)Duane O’Brien Website (https://www.duaneobrien.com/)Sustain Podcast-Episode 96: Chad Whitacre and how Sentry is giving $150k to their OSS Dependencies (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/chad-whitacre) Your Company Should Probably Pay $2.000 per Person for Open Source by Chad Whitacre (Medium) (https://gratipay.news/your-company-should-probably-pay-2000-per-person-for-open-source-9205443e209d)Sustain Podcast-2 Episodes featuring guest Duane O’Brien (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/duane-obrien)thanks.dev (https://thanks.dev/home)Pledge1% (https://pledge1percent.org/)We Just Gave $500,000 to Open Source Maintainers by Chad Whitacre (Sentry Blog) (https://blog.sentry.io/we-just-gave-500-000-dollars-to-open-source-maintainers/)Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl-ebook/dp/B009U9S6FI)Sovereign Tech Fund (https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/)[The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wheel+of+time+audiobooks&hvadid=580686494629&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9010778&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7030164937380257916&hvtargid=kwd-2910299332&hydadcr=298413533919&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pdsl5j01kv6z7fe) Bram Moolenaar-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Moolenaar)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Chad Whitacre.

  • Guests
    Carlos Martinez-Ortiz | Shoaib Sufi
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    In this episode, Richards welcomes his two guests, Carlos Martinez, Scientific Community Manager at the Netherlands eScience center, and Shoaib Sufi, Community Lead at the Software Sustainability Institute. They both represent a vibrant community dedicated to the long-term sustainability of research software and open source projects in the sciences. Today, our discussion navigates the “WoSSS” (Workshop on Sustainable Software Sustainability) and its evolution, taking a deep dive into the challenges and solutions surrounding software sustainability. They explore the crossroads of open source and research software and the importance of funding for such sustainable efforts. Additionally, they reflect on the future of workshops, hinting at potential refinements to address evolving community needs. This episode emphasizes the need for knowledge exchange, networking, and community building while contemplating future pathways in this evolving field. Hit download now to hear more!
    [00:01:25] The WoSSS refers to efforts to look at the long-term sustainability of software research and other sectors. It involves various organizations and alliances interested in software sustainability.
    [00:03:15] Shoaib discusses the relationship between open source software and research software, highlighting that they share common principles and methods, though they may not always be driven by the same goals.
    [00:04:12] Shoaib provides clarification about the funding of the Software Sustainability Institute, explaining that it’s funded by multiple UK research and innovation funding agencies.
    [00:05:00] Carlos explains that the Netherlands eScience center is the national center for research software expertise in the Netherlands, focusing on developing research software with a strong preference for open source licensing.
    [00:06:32] Shoaib and Carlos discuss the origins and evolution of the WoSSS, which started as a knowledge exchange workshop and expanded to cover various topics related to research software sustainability, preservation, and infrastructure.
    [00:08:43] Richard inquires about the types of community members who participate in WoSSS workshops. Shoaib mentions that the workshops aim to bring together funders, leaders, middle managers, developers, and individuals interested in research software sustainability to foster discussions.
    [00:10:19] Carlos explains the concept of “sustained software sustainability” as a pyramid with research software at the top, followed by the need to sustain it and the creation of a research landscape that supports long-term software sustainability efforts.
    [00:13:35] Shoaib mentions that the workshops aim to benefit participants by offering opportunities for them to contribute and discuss topics, crating reports to recognize their contributions. He explains that participants include individuals empowered by their universities to share information within their institutions.
    [00:17:41] Richard questions whether the participants who attend these workshops are often empowered by their institutions to share the knowledge they gain, and he also asks about the tools provided to help them communicate with researchers. Carlos emphasizes the importance of networking opportunities during the workshops, where participants can connect with people in the field who share similar challenges and goals.
    [00:19:12] Shoaib discusses the role of Research Software Engineering (RSE) groups at universities, which often perform functions similar to OSPOs in terms of supporting research software development and training. He provides an example of a case where a research group decided to use a restrictive open source license to retain control of their IP for commercial purposes.
    [00:22:54] Shoaib summarizes the key takeaways from the workshops, including the importance of FAIR Principles for Research Software and the need for ongoing software sustainability.
    [00:25:04] Shoaib explains that there’s been a desire to merge WSBI and WoSSS but that the future direction of WoSSS is being considered. Carlos reflects on how evolving landscape of similar workshops and initiatives has prompted the need for reflection on the future direction of WoSSS. Shoaib emphasizes the need to determine the purpose and audience of WoSSS in the future.
    [00:29:13] We learn that WoSSS is currently in a period of reflection, and future directions for it are being considered.
    [00:32:49] Shoaib shares final thoughts and talks about the project around research software quality, which is bringing various research infrastructures together. He also mentions the hidden REF.
    Spotlight
    [00:34:30] Richard’s spotlight is Ross Mounce, Director of Open Access Programs at Arcadia.
    [00:35:04] Carlos’s spotlight is Hedy, a programming language for teaching children how to get into programming.
    [00:35:49] Shoaib’s spotlight is The People and Projects Podcast, the TalkPython Podcast, and the Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement (CSCCE).
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@richlitt)
    Carlos Martinez Mastodon (https://fosstodon.org/@neocarlitos)
    Carlos Martinez LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosmartinezortiz/)
    Dr. Carlos Martinez-Ortiz-Netherlands eScience center (https://www.esciencecenter.nl/team/dr-carlos-martinez-ortiz/)
    Shoaib Sufi Twitter (https://twitter.com/shoaibsufi)
    Shoaib Sufi LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoaibsufi/)
    Shoaib Sufi-Software Sustainability Institute (https://www.software.ac.uk/about/staff/person/shoaib-sufi)
    Report on the Workshop on Sustainable Software Sustainability 2021-Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/records/7951155)
    WoSSS (https://wosss.org/)
    Society of Research Software Engineering (https://society-rse.org/community/rse-groups/)
    Introducing the FAIR Principles for research software-scientific data (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-022-01710-x)
    FAIR Principles for Research Software (FAIR4RS Principles)-Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/records/6623556#.YqCJTJNBwlw)
    RDA & ReSA: Policies in Research Organisations for Research Software (PRO4RS) (https://www.rd-alliance.org/groups/policies-research-organisations-research-software-pro4rs)
    ADORE.software (https://adore.software/)
    the hidden REF (https://hidden-ref.org/)
    Ross Mounce LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmounce/?originalSubdomain=uk)
    Hedy (https://www.hedycode.com/)
    The People and Projects Podcast (https://peopleandprojectspodcast.com/index.php/en/)
    TalkPython Podcast (https://talkpython.fm/)
    CSCCE: Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement (https://www.cscce.org/)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guests: Carlos Martinez-Ortiz and Shoaib Sufi.

  • Guest
    Kyle Wiens
    Panelist
    Richard Littaueropen-source
    Show Notes
    Hello and welcome to Sustain! Richard is in Portland at FOSSY, the Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference that is held by the Software Freedom Conservancy. In this exciting episode, Richard welcomes Kyle Wiens, the driving force behind iFixit, a large open source collection of user-generated repair manuals. Born out of a response to Apple’s stringent copyright regime on their service manuals, iFixit has grown into the most extensive collection of medical service manuals for hospitals. Kyle shares his journey from combating copyright laws to working on right to repair laws for everyday devices like tractors. From discussing locks on toasters to exploring the use of Linux and WINE on John Deere tractors, Kyle offers an insightful glimpse into the world of repair, open source contributions, and the potential futures of hardware. Press download now to hear more cool stuff!
    [00:00:46] Kyle explains that iFixit is a large open source collection of repair manuals. The manuals are created by the users, not sources from other companies, and they are the largest collection of medical service manuals for hospitals, from ventilators to vital sign monitors since the COVID-19 pandemic.
    [00:02:08] Kyle explains that iFixit is a for-profit company that sells parts and tools. He also mentions his friendship with Scotty Allen from Strange Parts.
    [00:03:08] Richard brings up the topic of legal implications surrounding iFixit and Kyle explains that while they do receive takedown notices, they’ve never been sued. He discusses how they deal with these notices, providing a detailed analysis of fair use.
    [00:05:27] Richard asks about LEGO building guides on iFixit, to which Kyle mentions a separate website dedicated to it.
    [00:06:04] We hear about the “Right to Repair” laws they are advocating for in various states. Kyle discusses the success of passing four bills in three states, focusing on electric wheelchairs and tractors, a consumer electronics bill passes in New York, and a law passed in Minnesota.
    [00:09:00] Kyle tells us his perspective about the intersection between right to repair and open source.
    [00:11:07] Richard asks Kyle if he collaborates with groups like Software Freedom Conservancy to circumvent these protections, and he confirms and gives an example of their work with “Right to Repair” laws for tractors.
    [00:12:46] What’s exciting for Kyle about this conference? Kyle expresses optimism about the conference and the potential of transferring the momentum from the right to repair movement to the open source world.
    [00:13:33] Kyle suggests that open source contributors can help by assigning their copyrights to the Conservancy, aiming to get GPL software into as much physical hardware as possible.
    [00:14:46] You can go to iFixit.com for guidance on fixing their devices and find out where you can follow Kyle online.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    Open Collective-SustainOSS Contribute (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Twitter (https://twitter.com/richlitt?lang=en)
    Software Freedom Conservancy (https://sfconservancy.org/)
    Open OSS (https://openoss.sourceforge.net/)
    Kyle Wiens Website (https://kylewiens.com/)
    Kyle Wiens Twitter (https://twitter.com/kwiens?lang=en)
    Kyle Wiens LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylewiens?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F)
    iFixit (https://www.ifixit.com/)
    Strange Parts (https://www.strangeparts.com/author/scotty/)
    The Repair Association (https://www.repair.org/)
    The End of Ownership: Why You Need to Fight America’s Copyright Laws by Kyle Wiens (Wired) (https://www.wired.com/2014/01/174071/)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Kyle Wiens.

  • Guest
    Dr. Bryan G. Behrenshausen
    Panelist
    Leslie Hawthorn | Abby Cabunoc Mayes
    Show Notes
    In this episode, hosts Leslie Hawthorn from Red Hat and Abby Cabunoc Mayes from GitHub, welcome Dr. Bryan G. Behrenshausen, a Senior Open Source Program Manager at GitLab. This episode delves deep into the world of open source, discussing its importance, challenges, and how companies like GitLab and GitHub are navigating and supporting the open source community. Bryan showcases GitLab’s initiatives to support open source communities, touching on programs like the GitLab for Open Source, and the exclusive GitLab Open Source Partners program. Throughout the conversation topics like guidelines for diving into open source projects, the intrinsic link between open source and business strategy, and the role of effective social interaction in the open source realm are explored. The significance of maintaining transparent documentation, policies, and processes in an open source environment is also emphasized. Press download now to hear more!
    [00:01:29] Bryan tells us about his role at GitLab, where he operates at the interface between GitLab, the company, and the broader GitLab community, focusing on open source contributions.
    [00:03:23] Leslie inquires about specific support mechanisms GitLab offers to open source maintainers and Bryan mentions two significant programs at GitLab: The GitLab for Open Source program and The GitLab Open Source Partners program. He lists some major projects associated with the GitLab Open Source Partners program like Debian, Arch, Fedora, etc.
    [00:08:45] Bryan emphasizes the importance of sustainability and how being a part of a community can provide support, best practices, and even commiseration.
    [00:10:01] Abby points out the challenges of community interaction on platforms like GitHub and asks Bryan about the impact of his efforts on community building at GitLab.
    Bryan acknowledges the challenges and notes that while they’re seeing progress in community building, it’s an ongoing effort.
    [00:11:38] We hear how Bryan is handling open source projects that just need a private repository for security releases.
    [00:12:38] Leslie mentions the significance of sharing policies and processes publicly, particularly in Europe, given the legislative environment. Bryan explains how GitLab implements a management model called “team ops” for best practices in an all-remote environment.
    [00:13:33] Leslie stresses the importance of documentation, and Bryan shares that GitLab is active on Discord, and he tells the story of how the community started the server and later handed it to GitLab.
    [00:15:33] Abby praises both GitLab and Red Hat for running open source projects and documentation. Bryan highlights the challenges and decisions behind using Discord.
    [00:16:50] Bryan provides context for the open leadership assessment and talks about how open source principles impact organizational culture and design, he mentions he’ll be speaking with Heidi Hess von Ludewig about one of his favorite projects at All Things Open-2023, and we hear about the “open source way,” which is another project he worked on.
    [00:20:58] Leslie raises the topic of interplay between work in communities and the responsibilities to employers, and Bryan explores the complexities of working in open source, the challenges, and frictions when balancing between community engagement and organizational objectives.
    [00:24:26] Abby asks if GitLab is offering guidelines for diving into open source projects. Bryan responds that GitLab’s handbook provides some basic guides but lacks a full-fledged open source programs office.
    [00:25:42] Leslie discusses a trend in technology industry where companies scale back on their open source program office staff, especially during rough economic times, and Bryan talks about the intertwined nature of open source and business strategy in certain organizations, and how the open source strategy is essential from top to bottom.
    [00:28:27] Leslie suggests that achieving business outcomes can be smoother with the right tools, including the skills for effective social interactions in the open source realm.
    Quotes
    [00:03:45] “We owe it to the open source ecosystem of which we are a part to make sure that ecosystem is healthy and vibrant and has what it needs.”
    [00:19:45] “I just think that open source communities are really fascinating Petri dishes of self-organization and self-governance.”
    [00:24:02] “Participation in open source projects is all but unavoidable today as an organization.”
    Spotlight
    [00:29:32] Bryan’s spotlight is his favorite open source project, WordGrinder.
    [00:31:02] Abby’s spotlight is Random Name Picker for Lucky Draw.
    [00:31:44] Leslie’s spotlight is reading a chapter on ‘Communication Channels’ from the guidebook, The Turing Way.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Twitter (https://twitter.com/richlitt?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    Leslie Hawthorn Twitter (https://twitter.com/lhawthorn?lang=en)
    Abby Cabunoc Mayes Twitter (https://twitter.com/abbycabs?lang=en)
    Dr. Bryan Behrenshausen Website (https://semioticrobotic.net/)
    The Open Organization (https://theopenorganization.org/)
    GitLab (https://about.gitlab.com/)
    GitLab for Open Source (https://about.gitlab.com/solutions/open-source/join/)
    GitLab Open Source Partners (https://about.gitlab.com/solutions/open-source/partners/)
    All Things Open (ATO) 2023 (https://2023.allthingsopen.org/)
    WordGrinder (http://cowlark.com/wordgrinder/index.html)
    Random Name Picker for Lucky Draw (https://github.com/icelam/random-name-picker)
    The Turing Way-Communication Channels (https://the-turing-way.netlify.app/communication/os-comms/os-comms-channels)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Dr. Bryan Behrenshausen.

  • Guests
    Amanda Casari | Julie Ferraioli | Juniper Lovato
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    In today’s episode of Sustain, Richard is joined by guests, Amanda Casari, devrel engineer and open source researcher at Google Open Source Programs Office, Julie Ferraioli, an independent open source strategist, researcher, practitioner, and Partner at Open Chapters, and Juniper Lovato, Director of partnerships and programs at the Vermont Complex Systems Center at UVM and Data Ethics researcher. Amanda, Julia, and Juniper join the discussion, bringing a wealth of expertise in the open source domain. The conversation gravitates towards an article co-authored by the guests, striking a balance between open source software and open source ecosystems research. The episode dives deep into the “10 simple things” format of the article, the crucial importance of collective conversations, and a keen exploration of open source researchers. Hit download now to hear more cool stuff!
    [00:01:29] Richard tells us why he invited our three guests today and he talks about their previous accomplishments and backgrounds.
    [00:02:17] Our discussion moves to the title of a new article co-authored by the guests. We hear about the intended audience of the article and the distinction made between open source software and open source ecosystems research.
    [00:03:31] Richard brings up where the article fits in the academic landscape, and it’s revealed to be more editorial than research.
    [00:04:17] There’s a conversation about the “10 simple things” format, its origin, and the motivation behind it. They put an emphasis on the need for collective conversation and the value of sharing experiences and knowledge.
    [00:07:28] Richard brings up the idea of open source researchers and mentions various figures and institutions involved in open source research. Juniper clarifies the target audience for the article and its intentions, Julie shares her perspective from the industry side and the importance of a critical framework, and Amanda expresses her emotional response to some researchers’ approach towards the open source community.
    [00:12:03] Julie discusses the emotional challenges that inspired the paper’s best practices emphasizing not repeating negative behaviors, and Juniper notes tension in research between benefits for the community and for the researchers emphasizing understanding norms and values for studying open source communities.
    [00:13:52] Richard mentions there are nine principles in the paper and asks about the principle regarding treating open source ecosystems as systems “in production.” Amanda highlights the importance of considering the real-world impact of research in open source and mentions an incident where a university was banned from the Linux kernel due to disruptive changes.
    [00:16:33] Julie emphasizes the potential broader impact on industry systems when modifying open source systems and she raises the point that tampering with open source systems might inadvertently affect critical infrastructure. Amanda comments on the increasing cybersecurity concerns around open source.
    [00:19:18] Richard brings up a real-world example of a university introducing bugs to the Linux kernel and points out the need for considering ethical implications beyond just production systems.
    [00:20:59] Richard draws parallels between addressing these issues and addressing racism, and Juniper adds that the scientific process is ongoing and should evolve with technology and societal values.
    [00:21:53] Julie describes the complexity of open source funding and compensation and points out the challenge in understanding motivations and expectations of open source participants.
    [00:24:07] Amanda emphasizes the difficulty of summarizing each section, noting that each one could be a chapter or book and she expresses her concerns about not just individual equity but organizational equity.
    [00:25:59] Juniper raises the issue of invisible labor in open source.
    [00:26:39] Julie highlights the importance of recognizing that open source repository data might not capture all the activity and contributions made by community members.
    [00:27:37] Amanda discusses the challenges and importance of capturing data, especially when it may put individuals at risk. Juniper stresses the importance of involving communities in the research process and gaining their consent, ensuring their dignity, security, and privacy.
    [00:29:49] Julie discusses the complexities of identity within the open source community, highlighting that individuals can hold multiple identities in this space.
    [00:31:10] Richard adds that the insight shared are not just for open source researchers but also for anyone involved in the open source ecosystem. He emphasizes the need to be aware of biases and the importance of understanding the data one works with.
    [00:32:22] Richard prompts a summary of the main points in the paper, which are read by our guests.
    [00:34:48] Find out where you can learn more about our guests and their work online.
    Quotes
    [00:20:08] “Production as the end line for ethical values leads to a lot of really thorny edge cases that are going to ultimately hurt the communities of people who aren’t working on production ready systems.”
    [00:21:20] “Just as open source is always in production, so is the scientific process.”
    [00:23:24] “Even having the privilege of time to dedicate to open source is not available to all.”
    [00:24:26] “It’s just not individual equity but organizational equity.”
    [00:25:47] “We can’t ignore the very large industry that is open source that has all that money moving around and where it’s going is a question we should all be asking.”
    [00:26:00] “There’s a lot of invisible labor in open source.”
    [00:28:32] “Leaving out communities from the scientific process of the research process leaves open these vulnerabilities without giving them a voice to what kind of research is being done about them without their consent.”
    [00:29:17] “What we are starting to consider acceptable surveillance in public is really being challenged.”
    [00:29:33] “It’s really important for us to make sure that we’re maintaining people’s dignity, security, and privacy while we’re doing this kind of research.”
    Spotlight
    [00:35:45] Richard's spotlight is The Long Trail that he’s going to hike.
    [00:36:17] Amanda’s spotlight is contributor-experience.org and the PyPI subpoena transparency report.
    [00:37:20] Julie’s spotlight is the book, Data Feminism.
    [00:38:09] Juniper’s spotlight is a new tool called, XGI.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Twitter (https://twitter.com/richlitt?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    Amanda Casari Twitter (https://twitter.com/amcasari)
    Amanda Casari Mastodon (https://hachyderm.io/@amcasari)
    Google Open Source (https://opensource.google/)
    Open Source Stories (http://opensourcestories.org/)
    Julia Ferraioli Twitter (https://twitter.com/juliaferraioli)
    Julia Ferraioli Website (https://www.juliaferraioli.com/)
    Open Chapters (https://openchapters.tech/)
    Juniper Lovato Website (https://juniperlovato.com/)
    Juniper Lovato Twitter (https://twitter.com/juniperlov)
    Vermont Complex Systems Center-UVM (https://www.complexityexplorer.org/explore/resources/75-vermont-complex-systems-center)
    Sustain Podcast-Episode 111: Amanda Casari on ACROSS and Measuring Contributions in OSS (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/111)
    XKCD (https://xkcd.com/)
    Beyond the Repository: Best practices for open source ecosystems researchers by Amanda Casari, Julia Ferraioli, and Juniper Lovato (https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3595879)
    Operationalizing the CARE and FAIR Principles for Indigenous data futures (scientific data) (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-021-00892-0)
    The Long Trail (https://www.greenmountainclub.org/the-long-trail/)
    Welcome to the Contributor Experience Handbook (https://contributor-experience.org/)
    Contributor experience-Why it matters (SciPy 2023) (https://blog.pypi.org/posts/2023-05-24-pypi-was-subpoenaed/)
    PyPI was subpoenaed by Ee Durbin (https://blog.pypi.org/posts/2023-05-24-pypi-was-subpoenaed/)
    Data Feminism by Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren F. Klein (https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262547185/data-feminism/)
    The CompleX Group Interactions (XGI) (https://xgi.readthedocs.io/en/stable/index.html)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guests: Amanda Casari, Julia Ferraioli, and Juniper Lovato.

  • Guest
    Emily Omier
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    Hello and welcome to Sustain! Richard is in Portland at FOSSY, the Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference that is held by the Software Freedom Conservancy. Today, we chat with Emily Omier, a revenue strategy and positioning consultant who helps open source startups accelerate revenue and community growth. Based in Paris, Emily lends her expertise to primarily European startups, helping them navigate their unique challenges and carve out a profitable strategy. We discuss her approach, which connects perfectly with her marketing background with company and product alignment in the open source space. We also touch on the critical role open source workers play in business profitability. Press download now to hear more!
    [00:00:47] Emily explains her role as a consultant who works with open source businesses to help them clarify their commercial strategy and positioning.
    [00:01:24] Emily reveals that she’s originally from Portland but currently resides in Paris. She serves both the European and American market and shares why she finds the European ecosystem more interesting.
    [00:03:00] Richard inquires about Emily’s approach to improving profit margins for European startups through open source strategy. Emily explains that her clients are typically companies that have already decided to be open.
    [00:05:56] Emily tells us that her ideal clients are relatively small startups that have some revenue and a commercial offering.
    [00:07:21] The topic of marketing comes up and Emily explains that although her background is in marketing, her current role involves various parts of a company, not just marketing. She discusses the importance of knowing the company’s identity, understanding the target user for the opens source project, and aligning product development with the company’s story.
    [00:10:06] We find out that Emily works mainly with founders and has never worked directly with a community or an Open Source Program Office (OSPO). She emphasizes the importance of open source workers in big businesses being able to articulate how their work in open source contributes to the company’s bottom line.
    [00:11:45] How did Emily get into this field if she hasn’t worked with open source communities? She goes in depth how she was working in marketing with Kubernetes companies in the cloud native sphere, where she found a significant overlap with open source communities.
    [00:13:43] Find out where you can learn more about Emily online.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Twitter (https://twitter.com/richlitt?lang=en)
    Software Freedom Conservancy (https://sfconservancy.org/)
    Open OSS (https://openoss.sourceforge.net/)
    Emily Omier Website (https://www.emilyomier.com/)
    The Business of Open Source Podcast (https://www.emilyomier.com/podcast)
    Emily Omier Twitter (https://twitter.com/EmilyOmier?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    Emily Omier LinkedIn (https://fr.linkedin.com/in/emilyomier?challengeId=AQHJRrJupUzrmAAAAYmn4QujXz32UfFYYdOJu6Cwe8np9YMXmh2KyyQTSopAxSC0DOoo2UQR1RVR5_3WnrQ5dUEB_ACLVd1nlQ&submissionId=8fe02694-e1b5-7617-5a1c-ad714a549b7f&challengeSource=AgGQwK0uUAAOQQAAAYmn4UKDUfqqgKKeE4IgYfXz2zitfD0NjjWc4ZlBEVCHufA&challegeType=AgEU8E9XcIwLhQAAAYmn4UKGTco4NnuMpQ_7KshxTbqlpYZsv3Mqpe0&memberId=AgE1fNY20cuH2AAAAYmn4UKJNK_nVe-y3Y6S8Exd8XMDdOg&recognizeDevice=AgHGFy9fem4K2AAAAYmn4UKMAGkvgKlal2Kdg8CJ9dDoydDseQXZ)
    The New Stack-Entrepreneurship for Engineers (https://thenewstack.io/author/emily-omier/)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Special Guest: Emily Omier.

  • Guest
    Karen Sandler
    Panelist
    Richard Littauer
    Show Notes
    Hello and welcome to Sustain! Richard is in Portland at FOSSY, the Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference that is held by the Software Freedom Conservancy.
    In this episode, Richard is joined by Karen Sandler, Executive Director at Software Freedom Conservancy. Today, they discuss the various aspects of organizing a conference, emphasizing ethical considerations, precautions taken, software freedom, community involvement, GNOME pronunciation, and highlight community contributions and the balance between using open source and proprietary software. They explore topics like DRM, exemptions, coordination on renewals, the challenge of “trafficking provision,” and the global influence of U.S. law. Hit download now to hear more!
    [00:00:35] Karen discusses the challenges of organizing the conference but praises her staff.
    [00:01:18] Richard and Karen discuss conference inspiration, focus on software freedom, and avoiding corporate noise. There’s an overview of talks and speakers, and a discussion on the correct pronunciation of “GNOME.”
    [00:03:46] Karen mentions attending the keynote session, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and reflects on the complexity of organizing with ethical considerations.
    [00:04:22] Richard asks Karen if there’s any controversies she’s had to weather at the conference, and she talks about COVID precautions, collaboration with charities, ethical practices in organizing, and how high school students have contributed to the event’s success.
    [00:06:53] Richard questions Karen about the balance between using open source and proprietary software for practicality. Karen emphasizes the need for thoughtful decisions about using proprietary software, reflecting on the realistic choices to ensure software freedom.
    [00:09:14] Karen mentions having a nice coffee chat session with Kyle Wiens, and working together on 1201 materials, referring to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). She further discusses about how the 1201 provision affects people.
    [00:11:27] The conversation takes a shift to discussing the trafficking term. They begin discussing potential legislation and the frustrations around applying for limited exemptions.
    [00:12:28] Richard questions why they focus so much on U.S. law instead of working in a country without restrictive laws. Karen explains the global impact of the U.S. law and how other countries often follow suit.
    [00:14:15] They discuss the lobbying impact of big companies and how they can influence laws even in small countries. Also, Karen shares being grateful for the ability to criticize and work within the system, the idea of working in another place, and the need for a global movement.
    [00:15:25] Find out where you can learn more about Software Freedom Conservancy and Karen.
    Links
    SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)
    SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
    [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
    SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)
    Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)
    Richard Littauer Twitter (https://twitter.com/richlitt?lang=en)
    Karen Sandler Twitter (https://twitter.com/o0karen0o?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
    Software Freedom Conservancy (https://sfconservancy.org/)
    Open OSS (https://openoss.sourceforge.net/)
    GNOME (https://www.gnome.org/)
    Digital Millennium Copyright Act (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act)
    Credits
    Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)
    Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
    Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Karen Sandler.

  • GuestSophia VargasPanelistRichard Littauer | Leslie HawthornShow NotesIn this episode, Richard and Leslie welcome guest Sophia Vargas, a Researcher and Program Manager at Google. Sophia’s journey from data center research to the open source ecosystem is explored, and the tactical support she provides to projects. She highlights the challenge of understanding contributors’ motivations, particularly in the context of financial incentives. The episode explores Google’s role in open source, delves into the complexities of funding and motivation, and uncovers the often unseen “glue work” that binds open source communities together. Tune in to gain insights into the dynamic world of open source sustainability and the quest of a balanced ecosystem. Download this episode now! [00:02:07] Sophia explains her transition from data center infrastructure research to open source ecosystem research. She discusses her role in understanding how Google interacts with open source and supports projects. [00:05:26] Sophia emphasizes the importance of understanding motivation in open source contributions, noting that financial incentives aren’t the primary driver. She discusses Google’s role in open source and its investments in various programs and engagements. Her research also delves into understanding why people contribute to open source and what keeps them engaged. [00:09:42] We hear how Sophia overlaps between her work in the CHAOSS community and her research at Google, particularly in metrics and understanding project dynamics. [00:12:16] Richard raises a question on how open source projects can receive funding without becoming overly dependent on it. Sophia explains that she’s actively researching this topic to understand the dynamics of funding and motivation in open source. She mentions her previous research has focused on contributors’ motivations, and now she’s investigating how money impacts those motivations. [00:16:48] Sophia emphasizes that the core focus of her research is on understanding individual contributors and how money might affect their involvement. She points out the challenges of determining the impact of different funding levels on contributors’ behavior.[00:18:25] She mentions the potential impact of formal agreements and expectations tied to funding and the discussion touches on how projects can shift from being hobbies to more professional roles due to funding.[00:20:31] Richard asks about existing research in fields beyond open source that might shed light on this issue, and Sophia mentions volunteer energy research and discusses the gaps in understanding the complex relationship between individuals, their motivations, and funding.[00:22:49] Richard raises the questions of whether the motivations of young individuals, particularly from the global south, are aligned with contributing to open source, and Sophia shares her thoughts on this explaining how it’s difficult to measure. [00:26:51] Leslie discusses the challenges of quantifying and acknowledging engagement that doesn’t manifest as code commits or traditional contributions. Sophia adds to this highlighting the “glue work” that often goes unnoticed, including tasks related to communication, event management, and coordination. She talks about ideas such as adapting processes to better track non-coding activities and using existing communication channels to reveal hidden contributions. [00:33:13] Richard wonders how one can effectively limit and define the scope of open source given its extensive nature. Sophia cites a research effort by the Complex Systems Center that aimed to count open source activity outside of GitHub to highlight the ecosystem’s size, and she emphasizes the importance of seeking exposure to diverse open source spaces, projects, conferences, and ideals to avoid bias and gain a comprehensive understanding. [00:36:32] Find out where you can follow Sophia on the web. Spotlight[00:37:24] Leslie’s spotlight is her first boss, Joseph Nguyen. [00:37:53] Richard’s spotlight is the Green Mountain Club and the Appalachian Mountain Club. [00:38:42] Sophia’s spotlight is Inessa Pawson, a maintainer at NumPy. LinksSustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/)SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])SustainOSS Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss)Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) (https://opencollective.com/sustainoss)Richard Littauer Twitter (https://twitter.com/richlitt?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)Leslie Hawthorn Twitter (https://twitter.com/lhawthorn?lang=en)Sophia Vargas LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-vargas-54608220)Google Open Source (https://opensource.google/)CHAOSS (https://chaoss.community/about-chaoss/) What motivates open source software contributors? (article) (https://opensource.com/article/21/4/motivates-open-source-contributors)The Shifting Sands of Motivation: Revisiting What Drives Contributors in Open Source (article) (https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.10291)Do I Belong? Modeling Sense of Virtual Community Among Linux Kernel Contributors (article) (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2301.06437.pdf)The penumbra of open source: projects outside of centralized platforms are longer maintained, more academic and more collaborative (article) (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2106.15611.pdf)Sustainability Forecasting for Apache Incubator Projects (article) (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2105.14252.pdf)ACROSS (Attributing Contributor Roles in Open Source Software) (https://whodoesthe.dev/)Why contributions count? Analysis of attribution in open source (article) (https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.11007)Green Mountain Club (https://www.greenmountainclub.org/)Appalachian Mountain Club (https://www.outdoors.org/)Inessa Pawson GitHub (https://github.com/InessaPawson)CreditsProduced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/)Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Sophia Vargas.