How open source is shaping the future of business

and our lives

All Things Open conference interview series
Open Voices, Issue 6
opensource.com
Copyright
Copyright 20! "e# $%t, Inc. All written content license# un#er % Cre%tive Commons Attri&ution'
(h%reAli)e !.0 *nporte# +icense.
Introduction
The first All Things Open conference is this ye%r in "%leigh, ,C. The conference %ims to e-plore open
source %n# the open we& in the enterprise. .rior to the event, Opensource.com interviewe# some of the
spe%)ers/ the top #evelopers, technologists, %n# #ecision m%)ers e-ploring %n# sh%ring how open
source is sh%ping the future of &usiness %n# our lives. This e0oo) is % collection of those interviews.
Im%gine turning on % f%ucet %n# 1ust letting it run %n# run. ,ow im%gine the flow is fille# with open
source )nowle#ge %n# insight. Th%t2s wh%t it2s &een li)e to e-ecute this pro1ect. These interviews open
up % free flow of inform%tion, of person%l thoughts %n# perspectives, from some of the most import%nt
open source le%#ers in the in#ustry. They run the comp%nies th%t not only thin) outsi#e the &o-, &ut %re
&uil#ing something re%lly speci%l out there/ communities, pro1ects, pro#ucts, %n# i#e%s th%t t%c)le %n#
solve some of our gre%test pro&lems, from tech g%#gets %n# #evelopment to &usiness %n# he%lthc%re.
3et your finger on the pulse of wh%t2s h%ppening in open source now %n# see how open source is
sh%ping the future of &usiness %n# our lives.
Acquia CEO on open innovation and new markets
for Drupal
Jason Hibbets: Project Manager in Corporate Marketing at Red Hat (originally published September
2!"#
4rup%l is seeing tremen#ous growth in %#option %n# high #em%n# for 4rup%l t%lent. Over the l%st few
ye%rs, I5ve w%tche# 4rup%l evolve from % content m%n%gement system to % soci%l pu&lishing pl%tform,
%n# now it5s loo)ing to est%&lish itself %s % we& eng%gement m%n%gement pl%tform6m%n%ging more
th%n 1ust content. 4rup%l %lre%#y h%s % strong presence in government, me#i%, pu&lishing, higher
e#uc%tion, %n# high tech. (o, wh%t m%r)ets %re ne-t7
To fin# out we %s)e# the C8O of % #ifferent comp%ny, Tom 8ric)son of Ac9ui%. 4rup%l is % free, open
source we& #evelopment pl%tform for online content %n# user communities, %n# Ac9ui% is %
commerci%l open source softw%re comp%ny provi#ing pro#ucts, services, %n# technic%l support for
4rup%l. Together with co'foun#ers 4ries 0uyt%ert %n# :%y 0%tson, Tom is % foun#ing #irector of
Ac9ui%, %n# in 200;, he &ec%me C8O. $e h%s more th%n !0 ye%rs of e-perience in enterprise softw%re
%n# is p%ssion%te %&out tr%vel, photogr%phy, %n# open innov%tion.
<e %s)e# 8ric)son %&out Ac9ui%5s ro%#m%p %s they move %he%#, some of their highlights from 20!,
the future of open h%r#w%re, %n# wh%t5s &eing #one to #rum up 4rup%l t%lent. <e %lso got his &ig
picture thoughts on open source %n# open innov%tion. $e w%s, however, tight'lippe# %&out his
upcoming t%l) %t All Things Open. "e%# on for more in this interview.
hat are some of the business sectors where Drupal is being deployed
today that you didn!t e"pect a year ago#
One of the &iggest &usiness sectors th%t 4rup%l h%s #eploye# th%t5s new is %ctu%lly in ph%rm%ceutic%ls.
<hile it5s %n %re% th%t 4rup%l historic%lly h%sn5t &een use# in % lot, it5s growing 9uic)ly &ec%use the
ph%rm%ceutic%l in#ustry is going through m%ssive #estructive ch%nges, %n# with those ch%nges, they5ve
got to re'#o their &usiness processes %n# lower their costs. <e5re wor)ing with one p%rticul%r
ph%rm%ceutic%l comp%ny th%t w%s t%)ing too long to intro#uce new #igit%l we&sites. An# &y using
4rup%l, they5ve seen % #r%m%tic !0= incre%se in time to m%r)et %n# h%ve seen % 60= cost s%vings.
4rup%l will now power thous%n#s of we&sites for these l%rge, multi'n%tion%l ph%rm%ceutic%l
comp%nies.
Acquia is growing by leaps and bounds$ what can the open source
community e"pect to see on your roadmap#
There %re % couple of &ig things %ctu%lly th%t we5ve l%unche# in the l%st few wee)s th%t we thin) %re
in#ic%tive of wh%t you c%n see with us.
The first is Ac9ui% Clou# (ite >%ctory. $istoric%lly, for org%ni?%tions th%t h%# tens of thous%n#s of
we&sites, some systems for the m%in sites were too e-pensive %n# too cum&ersome to #eploy. +ower'
cost sites #i#n2t w%nt to use templ%tes, &ut m%ny org%ni?%tions h%ve the nee# to #eploy thous%n#s of
c%mp%ign sites. The Ac9ui% Clou# (ite >%ctory solution %llows org%ni?%tions to h%ve custom
inst%ll%tions. 4rup%l @ %llows them to #eploy sites very 9uic)ly. <ith Ac9ui% Clou# (ite >%ctory,
you5re %&le to &uil# it6you still h%ve %ll the co#e, you5re %&le to t%)e it, &uil# it, move it, %n#
customi?e it l%ter if you w%nt. They5re simple, sm%ll sites, %n# with our tr%#ition%l Ac9ui% Clou#
offering, they c%n &e l%rge %n# comple-.
The secon# is Ac9ui% Commerce Clou#, which is % first step of % multi'ph%se intro#uction of 4rup%l5s
commerce c%p%&ilities. It provi#es % complement%ry solution to % very he%vy'#uty e'commerce
%pplic%tion. One of the &iggest things th%t5s ch%nging in the e'commerce worl# is the nee# to cre%te %
&etter shopping e-perience where content, %n# how you cre%te content, is more import%nt. 0r%n#s %re
now re%li?ing they w%nt to cre%te %n %m%?ing shopping e-perience for people %n# %lso %llow people to
purch%se while they5re c%ptiv%te# online. It5s % m%1or tren# shift, %n# 4rup%l is e-tremely well'pl%ye#
here.
hat is something you!re proud of$ either from Acquia or from the Drupal
community$ that has happened so far in %&'(#
Th%t2s % long list, &ut will we5ll pro&%&ly h%ve to go with something in the 4rup%l community here.
4rup%l @ is in co#e free?e now. There5s &een % lot of wor) put into enh%ncing 4rup%l @ %n# m%)ing it
not only more competitive with other systems in the m%r)et, &ut something &etter. <hether it5s the user
e-perience or re%lly e-p%nsive A.Is. (omething th%t5s re%lly recogni?e# in the m%r)et %s we go to more
%n# more clou#'&%se# systems is th%t interoper%&ility is critic%l. Th%t interoper%&ility is going to h%ve
to come from more A.Is %n# integr%tion with other systems. <e %lso move# to %n o&1ect'oriente#
p%r%#igm in 4rup%l to mo#erni?e the fr%mewor).
<e love to thin) of 4rup%l %s the l%rgest open source initi%tive in the worl#, with over 2A,000 people
h%ving contri&ute# co#e to 4rup%l over the ye%rs %n# %roun# ,000 core #evelopers in the community
%t %ny time. I5ve &een e-tremely impresse# with the wor) we5ve #one to get 4rup%l @ where it is. An#,
%s we get re%#y to l%unch e%rly ne-t ye%r, I thin) you5ll fin# it5s % m%ssive improvement, not only for
#igit%l pl%tforms &ut for #igit%l e-periences in gener%l.
)here seems to be high demand for Drupal talent$ is there anything Acquia
is doing to help grow the Drupal ecosystem#
It is #efinitely % ch%llenge when technology is growing 9uic)lyB the se%rch for tr%ine# in#ivi#u%ls in
th%t technology is %lw%ys % ch%llenge. <e2re #oing % num&er of #ifferent things. The first is we cre%te#
some tr%ining curriculum ourselves. <e &%sic%lly #o th%t %lmost %t cost %n# #istri&ute it through the
4rup%l community to m%ny of our 6A0 p%rtners, for the community to #eliver tr%ining. The secon# p%rt
is we %lso provi#e tr%ining through our p%rtner networ). <e %lso offer self'p%ce# tr%ining through
4rup%li?e Ce, % set of vi#eos provi#e# &y +ull%&ot.
As we loo) forw%r# %n# t%l) %&out ro%#m%ps %s we #i# &efore, one 9uestion we %s) ourselves is wh%t
c%n we #o on % glo&%l &%sis to provi#e tr%ining7 +%st ye%r we opene# %n office in In#i%, for e-%mple,
where there2s % tremen#ous #em%n# for 4rup%l. <e2re helping ensure th%t %s In#i% comes on'line with
4rup%l, th%t the 9u%lity of the tr%ining rem%ins high, %n# we2ll #o th%t through Ac9ui%'&r%n#e# tr%ining.
<e2re %lso loo)ing %t COOCs6%n# we &elieve this is where e#uc%tion is going in the future. The
e#uc%tion is free %n# people will p%y for the %ccre#it%tion. Th%t cre%tes % &etter worl# where people c%n
le%rn wh%t they w%nt to le%rn or te%ch themselves wh%tever topic is interesting to them. It cre%tes %
&etter society when we2re %ll e#uc%te#.
hat aspects of open source do you apply to your interests outside of
technology#
One of my &iggest p%ssions is photogr%phy. I focus on tr%vel photogr%phy, which is %ssoci%te# with my
p%ssion for tr%vel, %n# I love t%)ing my c%mer% with me. The other is sports photogr%phy. Cy son is
p%rt of % sports te%m, &ut I #on2t 1ust t%)e pictures of him. I t%)e pictures of %ll the te%m mem&ers %n#
sh%re the photos. 8very photogr%ph I t%)e, %n# I t%)e %roun# A0,000 photogr%phs % ye%r, is license#
through Cre%tive Commons. The m%1ority of the &etter ones I post on >lic)r, %n# th%t2s p%rt of me
giving &%c) in the conte-t of open source.
I %lso love to &uil# computers. It stems from when I w%s %n electric%l engineer m%ny ye%rs %go. I love
to t%)e things %p%rt %n# put them &%c) together. I %lso &uil# my own 4V"s, which stems from living in
Austr%li% where they #i#n2t h%ve TiVos. The components I use# for &uil#ing 4V"s %re %ll open source
components.
here do you see the open hardware movement going#
To me, open source is simply % #eriv%tion of open innov%tion. I &elieve, very strongly, th%t the most
#ifficult pro&lems %n# interesting ch%llenges we h%ve in the worl# %re going to incre%singly &e solve#
through open innov%tion. Open h%r#w%re is one of those %re%s. Another is the me#ic%l profession,
where for ye%rs they2ve &een trying to er%#ic%te #ise%se through coll%&or%tion. I &elieve the s%me will
st%rt to occur in open h%r#w%re, &ut %lso in % num&er of other ch%llenges.
Communities c%n now coll%&or%te th%n)s to the Internet in w%ys they weren2t %&le to &efore. They c%n
come together to coll%&or%te, no m%tter how sm%ll or l%rge they %re. An# they c%n come together to
cre%te % &etter solution to the worl#2s pro&lems. I thin) we2ll fin# in 20 ye%rs time, it2s not 1ust open
source softw%re %n# open source h%r#w%re, &ut some of the m%ny ch%llenges %cross the glo&e will &e
solve# through using %n open, coll%&or%tive %ppro%ch.
Additional reading
Dou %lso might en1oy this post &y Tom 8ric)son/ $he ne%t generation digital e%perience is built on
open source.
Interview with *ed Hat CIO +ee Congdon on the
changing role of I) leadership
&inny Skalski: Social Media Strategist 'or (pensource)com (originally published (ctober 2!"#
+%tely it seems you c%n2t re%# % tech, &usiness, or le%#ership &log without someone &ringing up the
ch%nging role of the Chief Inform%tion Officer.
The consumeri?%tion of IT6with employees &ringing their own #evices %n# &%sic IT services li)e
processing, stor%ge, %n# networ)ing &ecoming e%sily purch%s%&le6me%ns th%t CIOs h%ve %n
opportunity to #o more th%n )eep the prover&i%l lights on. CIOs incre%singly h%ve the opportunity to
&ecome str%tegic p%rtners within their org%ni?%tions. An# th%t5s e-%ctly wh%t "e# $%t CIO +ee
Cong#on is #oing.
Cong#on is one of the spe%)ers %t the upcoming All Things Open conference in "%leigh, ,C. In this
interview, Cong#on sh%res his view on the CIO role shift, his p%ssion for customer service, %n#
misconceptions people h%ve %&out the role of the CIO.
)ell us a bit about yourself and your background, How did you get
involved in I) and -oin *ed Hat#
Coming out of college, I w%nte# to #evelop oper%ting systems for sm%ll computers %n# I w%s fortun%te
to get % 1o& %t I0C #oing 1ust th%t. After wor)ing for I0C pro#uct #evelopment, s%les, inform%tion
technology, %n# technic%l support in &oth technic%l %n# m%n%gement roles, I w%s recruite# to wor) %t
Citi&%n), one of my consulting customers. It w%s % gre%t opportunity to wor) in glo&%l roles %n# le%rn
in % glo&%l firm. After Citi, I move# to the ,%s#%9 stoc) m%r)et %n# put my glo&%l e-perience to wor)
on m%r)et initi%tives in :%p%n %n# 8urope. Th%t le# to % #ivision%l CIO role %t C%pit%l One, where I le#
IT for % num&er of &usiness units %n# ultim%tely for the corpor%te functions.
<hen I w%s cont%cte# %&out the CIO role %t "e# $%t, it w%s % perfect fit. The people, the p%ssion, %n#
the open source culture were m%1or elements in my #ecision to move to "e# $%t. I2ve gre%tly en1oye#
the ch%llenges of le%#ing IT in %n open source culture %n# % technology'#riven firm. I2m e-cite# th%t
we2re est%&lishing the foun#%tions of ne-t gener%tion IT in our enterprise.
)he role of the CIO seems to be at a turning point$ evolving beyond simply
keeping things running to becoming a more strategic position, hat are
some of the ways you!ve observed the role of CIO change recently# hy
is this role becoming more strategic for companies#
IT le%#ership is #efinitely %t % turning point %n# the opportunities for IT le%#ers %re growing r%pi#ly if
they %re willing to step up to the ch%llenge. Dou will &e he%ring more %&out this topic %s we roll out our
"e# $%t 8nterprisers c%mp%ign in p%rtnership with the $%rv%r# 0usiness "eview %n# CIO C%g%?ine.
The re%son IT is &ecoming more str%tegic is th%t m%ny enterprises h%ve %lre%#y e-ploite# the process
#igiti?%tion opportunities which h%ve en%&le# them to &ecome more efficient. The worl# is r%pi#ly
going mo&ile, soci%l, %n# &ecoming incre%singly interconnecte#. Those #isruptions me%n th%t m%ny
enterprises %g%in h%ve the opportunity to e-ploit technology ch%nge to their %#v%nt%ge.
The &est IT le%#ers %re in % uni9ue position &ec%use of these ch%nges. They )now the &usiness
processes intim%tely in most enterprises &ec%use those processes %re implemente# in IT systems.
*nless they %ren2t p%ying %ttention, they un#erst%n# the technology ch%nges un#erw%y. An#, &%sic IT
services li)e processing, stor%ge, %n# networ)ing %re incre%singly &ecoming commo#ities th%t %re e%sy
to purch%se.
All this me%ns th%t IT le%#ers c%n focus on wh%t m%tters to their enterprises from % &usiness point of
view, whether it &e improving customer eng%gement, incre%sing revenue, re#ucing cost, or cre%ting
new lines of &usiness, %n# #eliver those solutions using the #isruptive technologies I mentione#.
I know you.re passionate about putting customers first, hat are some
ways I) leaders can ensure they.re focused on the customer while also
achieving business results#
IT org%ni?%tions %re service org%ni?%tions. I &elieve th%t firmly. They e-ist to serve the nee#s of their
intern%l %n# e-tern%l customers %n# the nee#s of the enterprise %s % whole. Th%t #oesn2t me%n th%t IT
org%ni?%tions h%ve to &e or#er t%)ers or su&servient, 9uite the opposite. 0ut it #oes me%n th%t IT
org%ni?%tions nee# to get their &%sic services right &efore they h%ve the cre#i&ility to le%# the
org%ni?%tion more &ro%#ly.
It is e%sy to %rticul%te the &%sics/ m%)e your pro#uction systems %ppropri%tely reli%&le, insure th%t you
c%n pre#ict%&ly e-ecute pro1ects, h%ve the right level of process re9uire# for your org%ni?%tion. These
things %ren2t %lw%ys e%sy to #o, &ut m%ny of them h%ve in#ustry st%n#%r# &est pr%ctices th%t en%&le IT
org%ni?%tions to get the &%sics right more r%pi#ly, &ec%use the &est pr%ctices provi#e % useful st%rting
point.
Astute IT le%#ers %n# org%ni?%tions #on2t stop there. They #evelop % vision for their function %n# for
their enterprise %n# relentlessly focus on %chieving th%t vision. In "e# $%t IT, we st%rte# with the i#e%
of &ecoming % worl# cl%ss IT org%ni?%tion, &ut even in the e%rly #%ys we h%# the vision to &ecome %
&e%con for the #eployment of open source solutions. <e2ve since e-p%n#e# th%t vision to inclu#e
le%#ership in the e-ploit%tion of clou# solutions. <e %lso %spire to le%# our org%ni?%tion in innov%tion.
All this re9uires p%ssion %n# le%#ership. C%int%ining focus on the customer %n# insuring th%t your
people %re inspire# to serve the customer %re fun#%ment%l to %chieving the vision you h%ve est%&lishe#.
hat!s a common misconception people have about the role of a CIO#
C%ny people still thin) of CIOs %s technic%l people. Although some CIOs continue to serve this
function, especi%lly in sm%ller org%ni?%tions, the role is now l%rgely % &usiness role. CIOs nee# to
insure systems run well %n# th%t pro1ects get #elivere#, &ut they %lso nee# to #eliver for the
org%ni?%tion2s customers, improve &usiness results, %n# #rive implement%tion of the enterprise str%tegy.
They nee# to select %n# #evelop the right people %n# they nee# to choose the right ven#or p%rtners.
8-%mples of where CIOs %## &usiness v%lue %re m%)ing their org%ni?%tions more #%t% centric, le%#ing
initi%tives to improve coll%&or%tion, %n# enh%nce coll%&or%tion tools, %n# t%)ing %#v%nt%ge of
technology p%r%#igm shifts li)e the imminent move to clou# computing. C%ny CIOs contri&ute #irectly
to re%li?ing &usiness str%tegy &y %pplying technology in new %n# uni9ue w%ys, &ut the &usiness str%tegy
is the core o&1ective. 8nterprising CIOs un#erst%n# th%t o&1ective well.
hat is your favorite thing about *ed Hat culture#
.%ssion. Our people %re p%ssion%te %&out why we %re here %n# %&out ch%nging the worl# the open
source w%y.
Can you give us a slight sneak preview as to what you will cover in your
All )hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
I will &e t%l)ing more %&out m%ny of the su&1ects we2ve covere# in this interview. I will t%l) %&out the
current st%te of open source %n# how we got here. I2ll &e focusing on le%#ing enterprises the open
source w%y %n# why th%t m%)es such % #ifference. I2ll even m%)e some pre#ictions %&out where we %re
going ne-t.
1o2illa evangelist talks favorite 3irefo" O4 phone
apps and addresses misconceptions
Robin Muil*ijk: +oard member, e- Publish Community Project +oard, .mbassador (pensource)com
(originally published September 2!"#
:%son <e%thers&y is %n e-perience# co#er %n# co'%uthor of /ntegrating and 0%tending +/R$. $is e%rlier
wor) with $TC+ %n# :%v%script recently le# him to 1oin Co?ill% %s one of their m%ny Technic%l
8v%ngelists.
E8very #%y I get to wor) on some of the coolest technology on the pl%net, %n# I re%lly en1oy wor)ing
with some of the &rightest %n# p%ssion%te people I h%ve ever met,E <e%thers&y s%i#.
I c%ught up with :%son to get his insight on the >irefo- O( 3ee)sphone, %s well %s, le%rn more %&out
wh%t got him to where he is now, tips %n# tric)s of the tr%#e, plus % pe%) into his present%tion for the
upcoming All Things Open conference. "e%# on in this interview.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background#
I h%ve &een wor)ing in softw%re #evelopment since the e%rly ;0s. I &eg%n my c%reer writing pl%nt
%utom%tion softw%re in C. +%ter I move# into 0I %n# :%v% #evelopment %n# wor)e# %s the prim%ry
8v%ngelist for the 8clipse 0I"T pro1ect. 0eing th%t the pro1ect w%s he%vily focuse# on <e& &%se# 0I, I
wor)e# % goo# &it with $TC+ %n# :%v%(cript, which le%# to me 1oining Co?ill%.
As the technical evangelist for 1o2illa$ who is your audience and can you
break down some of the key features you!re focused on educating that
audience about#
I %m one of m%ny Technic%l 8v%ngelists %t Co?ill% %#voc%ting for >irefo- O(B we %lso h%ve % l%rge
community of volunteers th%t #e#ic%te their own time to help ch%mpion its #evelopment. The >irefo-
O( %u#ience is 9uite #iverse &ut is gener%lly focuse# on $TC+A &%se# we& %pps. <hile Co?ill%
ch%mpions $TC+A #evelopment, in my %re% we %re trying to focus on the specific <e& A.Is th%t %re
%v%il%&le to the >irefo- O( Co&ile #eveloper. In %##ition we li)e to e#uc%te #evelopers on the &est
optimi?%tions, #e&ugging %n# profiling techni9ues, %n# new fe%tures provi#e# with e%ch rele%se of the
O(.
Do you have a 3irefo" O4 phone# hat are some apps that you like#
Des, I h%ve % >irefo- O( 4eveloper .review 3ee)sphone th%t I got &efore we
l%unche# >irefo- O(. As % #eveloper, I love the e%se in which I c%n &uil# %n# test
%pps.
>irefo- O( is #esigne# to &e for %ll we& #evelopers, %n# it is % &ig &onus to not
h%ve to le%rn % new l%ngu%ge to #evelop mo&ile %pps. As f%r %s some of my f%vorite
%pps go, there %re % lot of them th%t I li)e/ Twitter, C%pt%in "ogers, F%y%), %n#
0u??>ee#.
hat are some of the biggest misconceptions you!re
encountering when you talk to people outside 1o2illa about
3irefo" O4#
.ro&%&ly the &iggest misconception is th%t >irefo- O( h%s no offline c%p%&ilities %n# th%t it nee#s to &e
%lw%ys connecte#. I %ssume this misconception comes from the f%ct th%t it is % we&'&%se# O(, &ut
>irefo- O( offers offline c%che which %llows %pps to function properly when the user h%s no
#%t%Gwireless connection.
hat is the company culture like at 1o2illa#
0efore coming to Co?ill%, I h%# re%# m%ny %rticles on wh%t it is li)e to wor) here. Almost %ll of them
s%i# th%t it is so gre%t to wor) with the &est %n# &rightest in the in#ustry. After getting here, I re%li?e#
those %rticles were not e-%gger%ting. 8very #%y I get to wor) on some of the coolest technology on the
pl%net, %n# I re%lly en1oy wor)ing with some of the &rightest %n# p%ssion%te people I h%ve ever met.
Can you give us a sneak preview as to what you will cover in your All
)hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
I will &e covering the genesis %n# %rchitecture of >irefo- O(. I will %lso &e showing how to m%)e %
>irefo- O( %pp inclu#ing e-pl%ining %&out we& A.Is %n# the %v%il%&le components th%t c%n get you up
%n# running 9uic)ly.
Open source is brutal5 an interview with 6oogle!s
Chris Di7ona
Jodi +iddle: 1riter 'or Red Hat 0nterprise 2irtuali3ation at Red Hat (originally published (ctober
2!"#
Chris 4i0on% is the 4irector of Open (ource for 3oogle. $e is %lso one of the gre%t ch%mpions of open
source, #%ting &%c) to when he first fell in love with +inu- %t his university.
At the All Things Open conference this ye%r, Chris will give %n up#%te on 3oogle2s current open source
softw%re %ctivities %n# % retrospective, of sorts, on the origins %n# st%te of An#roi#.
I c%ught up with him to #iscuss his f%vourite +inu- #istri&ution, the &rut%l n%ture of open source, %n#
his view of 3oogle2s responsi&ilities %s %n in#ustry le%#er.
"e%# more in this interview.
hat!s something we don!t know about your path to 6oogle and working
with open source#
I first use# +inu- while I w%s %t school, %s we nee#e# to write some clientGserver stuff for the oper%ting
systems cl%ss I w%s t%)ing. >ortuitously for me, the (un wor)st%tion l%& w%s crow#e#, very hot #ue to
poor ventil%tion, smelly Hco#er o#orI, %n# the termin%ls were very very slow. I figure#, wh%t the hec),
let2s give this +inu- thing % shot on % J@6'6 I h%# lying %roun# %t home. 0est #ecision ever. I fell in
love with the +inu- O(. It w%s so gre%t, f%st, %n# fe%ture'full even &%c) then comp%re# to other uni-es.
I got %n A in the O( cl%ss, too.
A question almost as dangerous as asking about your favourite sports
team8 what!s your favourite +inu" distribution#
$%K A flip %nswer woul# &e .ndroid %s th%t2s the #evice with % +inu- )ernel th%t I use more th%n
%nything else &y two or#ers of m%gnitu#e, though most people #on2t consi#er it % #istri&ution in the
common w%y we t%l) %&out them. I2m typing the reply to this 9uestion on Chrome running on %
*&untuG4e&i%n #eriv%tive. I2m running % 4e&i%n inst%nce on 3oogle compute engine %n# I h%ve %
>e#or% m%chine %t home th%t I use from time to time. I c%rry % Chome&oo) %roun# for most of my
present%tions %n# feel it2s pro&%&ly the most secure m%chine I own.
>%vorite though7 An#roi#.
9ou spent a long time working with open source and +inu" before moving
to 6oogle in %&&:, hat made you want to work with 6oogle#
<hen I #eci#e# to return to full time wor) %fter % &rief perio# consulting, 3oogle2s offer w%s the
strongest %n# the most interesting to me. The i#e% of &eing %&le to &e 3oogle2s 2open source person2 %n#
to &uil# the effort from scr%tch w%s #eeply %ppe%ling to me. I %lso felt th%t 3oogle w%s H%n# isI still
#oing re%lly interesting computer science %n# th%t %ppe%le# to me in w%ys th%t the other offers #i#n2t.
;ot only do you mentor and consult on a variety of different pro-ects$
you!re also involved with 6oogle <entures$ helping to fund startups$ so
what is it that you look for in a pro-ect# hat makes you say5 =9es$ I want
to help you=#
<ell, honestly, I %m mostly loo)ing for it to &e interesting. >or 3oogle Ventures, I %m not re%lly in the
#e%l flow so much %s I2m &rought in on open source issues Hwhich %re interesting %n# legionI.
In an interview a few years ago you said$ =6oogle works with the open
source community, 4ponsorship implies stewardship$ and that!s a pretty
serious thing,= Does 6oogle hope to avoid stewardship in the
communities it!s involved in# Are the two ine"tricably linked#
I thin) so. I woul# r%ther 3oogle engineers %n# non'google open source engineers see e%ch other %s
peers in computer science. <e #o re%li?e th%t our &ro%# fun#ing of open source pro1ects c%n imply
stew%r#ship li)e control of pro1ects, &ut you )now, th%t2s how it goes even if th%t sort of thing #oesn2t
re%lly correl%te.
9ou once called open source >brutal?@hat did you mean by that#
<ell, I thin) I w%s %s)e# why open source wor)s %n# when you thin) %&out how softw%re engineering
m%n%gement wor)s in in#ustry, it shoul#n2t. 4isp%r%te, #istri&ute#, non'homogenous te%ms %re
e-tremely #ifficult to run in % comp%ny, &ut in open source it cre%tes some worl#'cl%ss terrific softw%re.
<hy is th%t7
I thin) th%t it is &ec%use open source pro1ects %re %&le to only wor) with the pro#uctive people %n#
ignore everyone else. Th%t &eh%vior c%n come %cross %s very h%rsh or e-clusion%ry, %n# th%t2s &ec%use it
is th%t/ &rut%lly h%rsh %n# e-clusion%ry of %nyone who isn2t contri&uting.
This is why pro1ect for)ing is so import%nt. If % person is re1ecte# from % pro1ect for wh%tever re%son,
they c%n for) %n# t%)e the pro1ect in % new #irection, %n# if their i#e%s %n# e-ecution is superior to the
prim%ry pro1ect, th%t for) &ecomes the new re%lity %n# those people th%t re1ecte# th%t #eveloper %re
now the re1ecte#.
(o, I guess wh%t I2m s%ying is th%t surviv%l of the fittest %s pr%ctice# in the open source worl# is % pretty
&rut%l mech%nism, &ut it wor)s very very well for pro#ucing 9u%lity softw%re. 0oy is it h%r# on
newcomers though...
3ourteen years ago$ you edited an O!*eilly book about open source, Has
the landscape of open source changed much in those years# Do you think
open source will overtake the proprietary model in the future#
The l%n#sc%pe h%s ch%nge# % &it, with the not%&le #emogr%phic #ifference &eing th%t we2ve seen %
growth in the num&er of people in comp%nies wor)ing on open source, %n# I perceive % slight #ecline
in open source p%rticip%tion in the %c%#emy, which I &l%me on the tech'tr%nsferG&%yh'#ole p%tenting
process &eing % re%l &%rrier to co#e licensing. (imil%rly, some open source coming out of universities
%n# comp%nies simply isn2t open source enough %s there is % f%ir %mount of si#e #e%ling going %roun#
on %roun# p%tents. I2m tempte# to s%y th%t if it isn2t % p%tent gr%nting license, you shoul# &e suspicious,
&ut th%t2s pro&%&ly % &it e-treme % position to t%)e %t this time.
An I71 -ourney5 from rocket engineer to the Eclipse
3oundation
4a5id Hu'': Senior Solutions .rchitect at Red Hat (originally published (ctober 2!"#
It2s not every #%y you get to interview your f%ther. An# mine wor)s for % completely #ifferent comp%ny
on very #ifferent pro1ects, &ut in this interview I got % ch%nce to t%l) to him %&out % topic of common
groun# &etween us/ open source6% pretty uni9ue concept th%t &in#s %n ever'growing community
together.
.%t $uff h%s &een wor)ing in the softw%re in#ustry since its inf%ncy %n# st%rte# his c%reer %s % Eroc)et
engineerE wor)ing on l%unch systems for v%rious comp%nies in C%pe C%n%ver%l, >lori#%. $e got me
st%rte# wor)ing with computers %n# progr%mming %t % young %ge, however, we went in % tot%lly
#ifferent #irections when I left 0ig 0lue for % sm%ll E+inu-E comp%ny &%se# out of "%leigh, ,orth
C%rolin%. Ironic%lly our c%reer p%ths h%ve converge#, %n# we %re &oth wor)ing on open source softw%re
pro1ects.
.%t w%s intro#uce# to open source while wor)ing with OTI HO&1ect Technology Intern%tion%lI, %
(m%llT%l) %n# :%v% solutions comp%ny %c9uire# &y I0C, which w%s the e%rly &eginnings of the 8clipse
pro1ect. $e continue# to wor) with open source %n# em&r%ce# the concepts of %gile #evelopment while
m%n%ging %n em&e##e# :%v% #evelopment te%m wor)ing on o&1ect oriente# tooling.
Currently, .%t is % .rogr%m 4irector for "%tion%l %t I0C where he m%int%ins the rel%tionship &etween
the I0C pro#uct #evelopment community %n# the 8clipse >oun#%tion. .%t %lso sits on the 8clipse
0o%r# of 4irectors representing I0C. In %##ition to his &o%r# #uties, he is the ch%ir of the 8clipse I.
A#visory Committee %n# the co'ch%ir of the 8clipse +ong term (upport <or)ing 3roup.
4espite )nowing % lot %&out him, this interview w%s % ch%nce for me to %s) him some things I never
h%# &efore. An#, %s you c%n im%gine, I #i#n2t h%ve % h%r# time tr%c)ing him #own. <e %lso #iscusse#
his upcoming present%tion %t the All Things Open conference.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background#
I h%ve &een involve# in some form of softw%re #evelopment my entire c%reer. In the &eginning it w%s
microco#e %n# %ssem&ly l%ngu%ge, &ut it soon evolve# to higher level l%ngu%ges. The en# pro#uct h%s
ch%nge#, from sp%ce l%unch systems to %irline reserv%tion systems, to em&e##e# :%v% solutions, to
#eveloper tool suites, &ut the common thre%# h%s %lw%ys &een the softw%re #evelopment processes %n#
#isciplines re9uire# to #eliver these solutions. Cy role now gives me the uni9ue opportunity to wor)
closely with % vi&r%nt open source community while pursuing commerci%l %#option of those pro1ects.
)ell us how you went from =rocket engineer= and got into open source,
I h%ve &een fortun%te to wor) on m%ny pro1ects #uring my c%reer. Cy first 1o&s were with +oc)hee#
%n# then C%rtin where I w%s on their l%unch te%ms. Then I st%rte# with I0C wor)ing on the l%unch
te%m for the sp%ce shuttle. At I0C I w%s luc)y to h%ve % v%rie# r%nge of interesting %ssignments %n#
when I0C %c9uire# O&1ect Technology Intern%tion%l HOTII I w%s fortun%te to &e %&le to wor) closely
with this te%m. OTI &rought to I0C the core components th%t woul# eventu%lly &e #on%te# to 1ump
st%rt the 8clipse >oun#%tion. .%rticip%ting in this process intro#uce# me to the open source movement
%n# I h%ve &een % huge f%n ever since.
hat areas or verticals do you see open source succeeding in in the
commercial space#
<ell one o&vious one to me is the one I %m involve# in, which is softw%re #evelopment tools %n#
infr%structure. I %lso see % lot of e-citement %roun# the m%chine'to'm%chine solutions %re% %n#
especi%lly the Internet of Things. There %re some very interesting pro1ects %t 8clipse th%t %re %##ressing
this sp%ce.
hat!s been the most challenging part of being with the Eclipse 7oard of
Directors# And what!s been the most rewarding moment#
The &iggest ch%llenge is to &%l%nce my fi#uci%ry responsi&ilities to the 8clipse >oun#%tion %s % &o%r#
mem&er with the &usiness nee#s of my comp%ny. As % 0o%r# Cem&er, I %m responsi&le to help gui#e
8clipse %n# &%sic%lly to oversee the policies %n# str%tegic #irection of the 8clipse >oun#%tion. At the
s%me time, I %m representing the interests of my comp%ny to the e-tent th%t they #o not conflict with
the >oun#%tions nee#s.
The most rew%r#ing moment/ p%rticip%ting in % #yn%mic %n# relev%nt org%ni?%tion. The 8clipse st%ff is
very )nowle#ge%&le %n# % ple%sure to wor) with.
Can you give us a sneak preview as to what you will cover in your All
)hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
It is not e%sy to %#opt open source softw%re into % commerci%l pro#uctB there %re m%ny potenti%l
pitf%lls. I h%ve live# %n# &re%the# this process for m%ny ye%rs. I w%nt to help fol)s who m%y see % role
for open source in their comp%nies &ut %re not sure how to #o it. 0ut it is not 1ust %&out consuming open
source, p%rticip%tion in the community is 1ust %s import%nt %n# in my opinion, vit%l to &oth your success
%n# the community2s success.
Ap close and personal with )witter!s Open 4ource
1anager Chris Anis2c2yk
1eston 4a5is: 6egal and business a''airs at Red Hat (originally published (ctober 2!"#
It2s offici%l/ Twitter is % glo&%l phenomenon, %n# it2s h%r# to %rgue %g%inst the num&ers supporting th%t
st%tement. <h%t st%rte# %s % sm%ll, 9u%si'micro'&logging comp%ny in 2006, g%ine# ste%m in 200L with
the service gener%ting %roun# J00,000 tweets per 9u%rter, or roughly 00 tweets per #%y, %n# e-plo#e#
to worl#wi#e service with % st%ggering J00 million tweets per #%y &y 20!.
The i#e% w%s simple6it2s % soci%l utility where you2# openly sh%re your st%tus up#%tes with your
frien#s, %n# m%y&e others too. To#%y, Twitter is the source for &re%)ing news, % necessity for pro#uct
%n# &r%n# promotion, % MNA service for &usiness customers, %n# yes, even % tool to org%ni?e
government uprisings, not to mention still % pl%ce to sh%re % lin) with % frien#.
Twitter is % worl#wi#e, open, inform%tion sh%ring service %n# repositoryB % min#'num&ingly simple Ee'
voiceE for the people. ,ow on the verge of %n I.O, we m%n%ge# to gr%& Twitter2s Open (ource
C%n%ger, Chris Anis?c?y), for % few 9uestions le%#ing up to his present%tion %t the All Things Open
conference this ye%r.
Read more: $he open source technology behind $*itter, %n interview with Chris in August 202.
)ell us about yourself in ':& characters or less,
I might %s well use my Twitter &io Ocr% here H%lthough &ios c%n &e up to 60 ch%r%ctersI/ Head o'
(pen Source at $*itter) Pragmatist) .5id Runner) +ourbon)
hat are your favorite hobbies#
Our in#ustry Pthe tech in#ustryQ isn5t the &est )nown for st%ying in sh%pe. This shoul#n5t &e % surprise
when you spen# most of your time sitting %t your #es) or on %n %irpl%ne Hor m%y&e it5s 1ust meI. These
#%ys, I fin# myself wor)ing to improve my running times %n# #iving into the sport of tr%il running.
Dour he%lth is one of your &est %ssets %n# if you t%)e c%re of it, you5ll h%ve more energy for wor), life,
%n# to h%c) on things. It5s %s simple %s th%t. An# when you tr%vel, %ll you nee# to p%c) %re your running
shoes to get some e-ercise in. ,o e-cusesK
I5m %lso p%ssion%te %&out &our&on, &ut we c%n s%ve th%t for %nother interview.
hat led you to become an engineer# ere you always into coding# How
did you get involved with open source#
I w%s fortun%te when growing up to &e e-pose# to RS (pectrum %n# vi#eo g%me consoles over the
ye%rs. The #esire to &uil# my own vi#eo g%mes %fter pl%ying them so much put me on the p%th of
&ecoming %n engineer.
In terms of how I got involve# in open source, I st%rte# %s % consumer when I w%s in high school %n#
spent time tin)ering with (l%c)w%re. After (l%c)w%re, I w%s intro#uce# to 3entoo %n# &ecome
en%more# with the philosophy %roun# port%ge %n# more import%ntly the %ctive community. It w%s the
first time I w%s e-pose# to % huge community of volunteers t%)ing their time to %nswer 9uestions on
I"C %n# vi% their %ctive forums. I5m still th%n)ful to this #%y for the fol)s who %nswere# my silly
9uestions when I w%s le%rning to compile everything from scr%tch. I2ve &een p%ying it forw%r# ever
since.
Do you have a git repo hosting service of choice# hat are your other
toolsBservices of choice#
3it$u& is the #ef%cto repo hosting service for me %n# where Twitter h%ppens to open source %n#
#evelop the m%1ority of its softw%re. It shoul#n5t &e % surprise %s 3it$u& is the l%rgest repo hosting
service out there %n# the worl#2s l%rgest open source community. The fol)s %t 3it$u& h%ve #one % lot to
m%)e #evelopment frictionless with pull re9uests %n# improve the life of contri&utors in gener%l.
Another tool I5m fon# of is 3errit Co#e "eview, which we he%vily use %t the 8clipse >oun#%tion, &ut it
is %lso use# %t pl%ces li)e Openst%c) %n# <i)ime#i%. It serves some #ifferent use c%ses th%n 3it$u&,
&ut it5s % f%nt%stic co#e review tool %n# integr%tes &e%utifully with git.
If you could write code only pursuant to a single open source license for
the rest of your life$ what would it be#
This is %lmost % tric) 9uestion %s I thin) it5s too simplistic to choose one licenseB there5s % lot of f%ctors
you h%ve to consi#er from &usiness str%tegy to p%tents to person%l choice. .erson%lly, I ten# to &e fon#
of permissive HCITG0(4I %n# we%) copyleft licenses HC.+G8.+I, #epen#ing on wh%t I5m #oing. At
Twitter, we le%n tow%r#s permissive licenses, in p%rticul%r the Ap%che .u&lic +icense 2.0 &ec%use of %
couple of leg%l niceties, such %s % p%tent ret%li%tion cl%use %n# strict rules %roun# tr%#em%r) us%ge. I
%lso &elieve permissive licenses %re the &est when it comes to h%ving in#ivi#u%ls %n# comp%nies %#opt
your softw%re.
How would you e"plain open source to someone on the street#
It5s 1ust % soci%list i#e% %n# helps un#ermine the m%n. :ust )i##ing.
To e-pl%in open source on the street, I woul# tell people to im%gine they cre%te# %n %m%?ing chocol%te
chip coo)ie recipe %n# hoste# % #inner p%rty. At the #inner p%rty, people love# the coo)ies so much
they %s)e# if you coul# sh%re the recipe so you h%ppily o&lige#/
2 cups flour
T tsp &%)ing so#%
U tsp se% s%lt
U cup %ll'veget%&le shortening
U cup honey
t&sp v%nill% e-tr%ct
T cup #%r) chocol%te chips
T cup choppe# pec%ns
>urthermore, fol)s love# the recipe so much they thought it coul# &e improve#. One of your hipster
frien#s thin)s the recipe coul# &e improve# if you %##e# &%con, %nother is on the p%leo #iet %n# w%nts
to use %lmon# flour, while %nother frien# w%nts to remove pec%ns &ec%use they %re %llergic to nuts.
After t%sting the &%con ingre#ient %##ition, you %gree %n# incorpor%te the ch%nge into your origin%l
recipe &ec%use &%con m%)es everything &etter.
>or someone with % tech &%c)groun#, repl%ce the recipe with softw%re, &%con with fe%tures, %n#
w%lnuts with &ug fi-es. C%y&e th%t5s % terri&le %n%logy or too simple %s open source encomp%sses % lot
more th%n softw%re these #%ys, &ut you get the point. Also, for the &est chocol%te chip coo)ies I5ve ever
h%# in my life I recommen# this recipe from 0l%c)&ir# 0%)ery.
3inally$ what will your All )hings Open conference talk be about /without
giving too much away0#
In %ll honesty, I h%ven5t finishe# the t%l) yet so it will &e somewh%t of % surprise. $owever, I pl%n on
covering the growth ch%llenges we f%ce# %s we &oth grew %s % service %n# % comp%ny. I5ll #elve into
our migr%tion from % monolithic %rchitecture to % more service oriente# %rchitecture %n# how open
source helpe# us %long the w%y. In p%rticul%r, I5ll focus on our infr%structure %n# how Cesos h%s m%#e
our life e%sier.
How the Eclipse 3oundation evolves to stay
relevant
4a5id Hu'': Senior Solutions .rchitect at Red Hat (originally published (ctober 2!"#
The 8clipse >oun#%tion supports % vi&r%nt %n open source community. Those who wor) on their
pro1ects %re focuse# on building an open de5elopment plat'orm comprised o' e%tensible 'rame*orks,
tools, and runtimes 'or building, deploying, and managing so't*are across the li'ecycle)
(t%rte# in 200J, the 8clipse >oun#%tion h%s %n interesting history Hre%# more %&out it hereI, &eginning
with The 8clipse .ro1ect %t I0C in 200.
Currently, Ci)e Cilin)ovich is the 8-ecutive 4irector %t the 8clipse >oun#%tion, %n# I c%ught %
moment of his time for % few 9uestions. $is t%l) %t the All Things Open conference this wee) will &e
%&out how foun#%tions c%n st%y relev%nt %long with their open source communities. 3et to )now Ci)e
%n# the 8clipse community &etter in this interview.
)ell us a bit about yourself and your background,
I2ve &%sic%lly #one every 1o& you c%n #o in % softw%re or technology comp%ny from %ccount%nt to
softw%re #eveloper to &usiness #evelopment e-ecutive. As % result, I thin) th%t one of my strengths is
th%t I c%n t%l) to 1ust %&out %nyone in our in#ustry %n# h%ve %t le%st some &%sic emp%thy with where
they2re coming from.
As % #eveloper, my first love w%s A.+ Hwhich w%s % truly str%nge %n# won#erful l%ngu%geI, &ut my
true love w%s (m%llt%l). 0ut I2ve h%c)e# in over % #o?en #ifferent progr%mming l%ngu%ges %t one time
or %nother. I wrote my C%sters thesis in the ;@0s in O&1ective'C, %n# you c%nnot im%gine how
surprise# I %m to see the resurgence of th%t l%ngu%ge. The pro#uct th%t I wor)e# on th%t th%t %t le%st %
few fol)s m%y remem&er is OTI2s 8,VDG4eveloper, which l%ter &ec%me the &%sis for I0C2s Visu%lAge
for :%v%. I2ve wor)e# in l%rge multi'n%tion%ls such %s ,ortel, I0C, %n# Or%cle. I2ve wor)e# in three
st%rtups %s well. I2ve m%n%ge# to h%ve %n interesting %n# v%rie# c%reer while living in the city I grew up
%n# stu#ie# in, which is Ott%w%, C%n%#%.
In %##ition to my #%y 1o& %s the 8-ecutive 4irector of the 8clipse >oun#%tion, I %m % 4irector of the
Open (ource Initi%tive, % mem&er of the :%v% Community .rocess2 8-ecutive Committee, %n# % p%st
#irector %n# o&server on the &o%r# of the Open:4F community.
9ou have had quite an interesting career path, )ell us how you evolved
from working on proprietary software to open source,
Cy first re%l e-posure to open source w%s in my current 1o& %t 8clipse. Cy p%ssion is seeing open
source principles &e %pplie# to solve re%lly tough &usiness, org%ni?%tion%l, %n# technic%l pro&lems. I
firmly &elieve th%t open wins, %n# I love seeing how f%r the open source movement h%s progresse# over
the p%st #ec%#e.
<hen I w%s recruite# for the 1o& %t the 8clipse >oun#%tion I w%s % V. %t Or%cle, which is not
necess%rily the most o&vious pl%ce to l%unch %n open source c%reer. 0ut %s I0C, Intel, $., %n# (A.
were wor)ing together to l%unch the 8clipse >oun#%tion in 200J, I thin) I sort of p%ttern m%tche# my
w%y into the 1o&. I h%# &een employee num&er 2 %t OTI HO&1ect Technology Intern%tion%lI, which %t
the time w%s %n I0C su&si#i%ry %n# the core te%m th%t &uilt 8clipse. I h%# left I0CGOTI five ye%rs
previously, &ut still h%# cor#i%l rel%tionships with 9uite % few of the pro1ect le%#ers within the 8clipse
community. I h%# &uilt I48s &efore %n# h%# % pretty #ecent gr%sp of the technology. I %lso h%# % soli#
&usiness &%c)groun# %n# h%# the &%sic s)ills re9uire# to cre%te % sm%ll &usiness, which the 8clipse
>oun#%tion is.
Origin%lly I w%s mostly e-cite# %&out how open source &est pr%ctices c%n &e use# to spur open
innov%tion %mongst comp%nies. 0ut, I h%ve to %#mit th%t over time the fun %n# e-citement of &eing
involve# in %n open community h%s &ecome more import%nt to me. I re%lly love my 1o& %cting %s the
8clipse community2s chief cheerle%#er.
hat e"cites you about open source# here do you see it going#
Open wins. <e h%ve seen this time %n# time %g%in. Open source h%s &een critic%l to the &usiness
mo#els of m%ny of the worl#2s most successful st%rt'ups over the p%st #ec%#e. I2m thin)ing of
comp%nies li)e 3oogle, >%ce&oo), %n# Twitter. +inu-, in p%rticul%r, is #riving the worl# of #evices th%t
is liter%lly growing %roun# us every#%y. Open source softw%re runs the infr%structure of our l%rgest
enterprises, is #riving the emergence of the clou#, %n# is en%&ling the ne-t gener%tion of st%rt'ups. In
short, it is ch%nging the worl#.
0ut, I still see % ton of opportunities for open source to &ecome even more import%nt. One %re% th%t h%s
%lw%ys intrigue# me is in the %re% of enterprise %pplic%tions. ,o m%tter which in#ustry or #om%in you
c%n thin) of, there %re % set of &%sic &usiness processes, st%n#%r#s, %n# protocols th%t every comp%ny in
it h%s to implement.
In to#%y2s worl# th%t &%sic infr%structure is either &uilt in'house or is provi#e# &y commerci%l softw%re
ven#ors which ch%rge % lot of money for solving pro&lems which %t their core %re 1ust not th%t tough.
I2ve long &elieve# th%t enterprises coul# &%n# together %n# use open source %ppro%ches to &uil#
common, in#ustry'specific infr%structure %t % fr%ction of the current cost. 8ven &eyon# the cost, I 1ust
thin) it is %n utter w%ste of hum%n t%lent %n# energy to h%ve very simil%r softw%re st%c)s &eing
replic%te# %cross multiple enterprises. >%r too much softw%re gets written which re%lly h%s ?ero
#ifferenti%ting v%lue for the org%ni?%tion fun#ing its #evelopment, %n# I thin) th%t sh%re#, community'
&%se# #evelopment woul# &e % r%#ic%lly more efficient w%y to get this #one.
hat is unique about the Eclipse community#
8very hum%n institution evolves % specific culture &%se# on its history %n# %ccomplishments. The
8clipse >oun#%tion is uni9ue in th%t it is % m%rri%ge of %n open, tr%nsp%rent, %n# meritocr%tic open
source community with %n in#ustry consortium who w%nts to cre%te % commerci%lly profit%&le
ecosystem. This #u%l n%ture of 8clipse goes &%c) to its cre%tion &y I0C in 200 when they %nnounce#
&oth %n open source pro1ect contri&ution %n# % consortium. At the time, this w%s %n incre#i&ly novel
i#e%. ,ow we %ll consi#er it o&vious.
The me%sure of success for 8clipse pro1ects is l%rgely %roun# %#option. In p%rticul%r, we love pro1ects
th%t succee# %s % pl%tform such %s the 8clipse tooling pl%tform, our mo#eling pl%tforms, %n# the "ich
Client .l%tform. I thin) th%t this focus on &eing % pl%tform, %n# the v%lues %roun# 9u%lity, A.I st%&ility,
%n# regul%r, pre#ict%&le rele%se sche#ules %re re%lly 9uite uni9ue. Our %nnu%l simult%neous rele%ses
h%ve &een on time to the #%y for nine ye%rs str%ight, which is %n incre#i&le test%ment to wh%t %
community c%n %ccomplish. Very few softw%re org%ni?%tions of %ny type c%n e9u%l th%t tr%c) recor#.
hat are the challenges the Eclipse 3oundation faces going forward#
Anything e"citing on the hori2on that you can share with us#
Our num&er one ch%llenge to#%y is to reinvigor%te the level of investment %n# innov%tion going into
our :%v% #evelopment tools. I thin) th%t we must #o &etter there %s % community th%n we h%ve over the
l%st couple of ye%rs.
Another ch%llenge is to #o % &etter 1o& of getting the mess%ge out th%t the 8clipse >oun#%tion is
l%ngu%ge %n# pl%tform %gnostic. A lot of people still thin) of 8clipse %s the pl%ce th%t only &uil#s open
source tools in :%v%. In f%ct, we will support pro1ects in %ny l%ngu%ge, %n# h%ve some very cool pro1ects
in l%ngu%ges li)e C, :%v%(cript, %n# +u%. 0ut o&viously it t%)es some serious time %n# effort to ch%nge
people2s perceptions.
In terms of e-citing new %re%s, the ones which re%lly st%n# out in my min# %re things li)e Vert.- which
is % :VC'&%se# polyglot %pplic%tion pl%tform, %n# Orion which is % &rowser'&%se# tooling pl%tform
focuse# on :%v%(cript, $TC+, %n# C((. <e %re %lso r%pi#ly &uil#ing 9uite % community intereste# in
loc%tion'&%se# technologies with pro1ects li)e u4ig %n# 3eoCes%. 0ut the one th%t I %m person%lly
most e-cite# &y is the community we h%ve st%rting in the %re% of Internet of Things %n# C%chine'to'
C%chine. This is % technology %re% th%t I #%&&le in %s % ho&&yist HI own four "%sp&erry .is, two
Ar#uinos, %n# % 0e%gle0one 0l%c)I, %n# I love to see the momentum th%t the 8clipse community is
g%ining in this %re%.
:ust to mention one cool new pro1ect, the core of the open$A0 pro1ect is moving to 8clipse %s the
8clipse (m%rt $ome pro1ect. It provi#es % nice pl%tform %n# toolset for integr%ting home %utom%tion
#evices from multiple ven#ors %n# protocols into % single solution for % homeowner. The pro1ect 1ust
won % 4u)e Aw%r# %t :%v%One % few wee)s %go.
Can you give us a sneak preview as to what you will cover in your All
)hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
The technology in#ustry %n# the #eveloper community never stops ch%nging, %n# my t%l) is focuse# on
how open source foun#%tions nee# to ch%nge to st%y relev%nt. I &elieve very #eeply th%t open %n#
meritocr%tic communities which tre%sure their in#epen#ence %n# ven#or neutr%lity h%ve %n import%nt
role to pl%y in the future of &oth our in#ustry %n# our society. 0ut no org%ni?%tion which is unwilling or
un%&le to %#%pt to their ch%nging environment will survive longterm. Of course, I will &e #r%wing m%ny
of my e-%mples from 8clipse, &ec%use th%t2s the org%ni?%tion I )now &est.
Community management tips from 6reg
DeCoenigsberg of Eucalyptus
$ra5is 7epley: Solutions architect at Red Hat (originally published (ctober 2!"#
+e%#ing communities %s in#ivi#u%lly uni9ue %s those foun# in open source softw%re is not % 1o& th%t
m%ny people woul# w%nt to t%)e on. Det, 3reg 4eFoenigs&erg h%s #one 1ust th%t for not 1ust one
community &ut sever%l m%1or pro1ects %n# org%ni?%tions, for over % #ec%#e.
(e%sone# through the e%rly, gn%rly ye%rs of the >e#or% .ro1ect %s the first Ch%irm%n of the 0o%r# %s
well %s community le%#ership roles within "e# $%t itself, 3reg h%s em&%r)e# on % new %#venture into
the clou# with 8uc%lyptus %s the Vice .resi#ent of Community.
3reg 4eFoenigs&erg, %lso )nown %s 34F, is often foun# spe%)ing %t conferences %n# events %roun#
free %n# open source softw%re %n# is % contri&uter to Opensource.com.
6iven Eucalyptus! position in the cloud space$ what new challenges do the
idea of public clouds bring to open source communities and to software
freedom#
I thin) there %re no new ch%llenges to softw%re free#om61ust new wrin)les to %ll of the ol# ch%llenges.
.ropriet%ry systems %n# propriet%ry softw%re fre9uently provi#e gre%t v%lue, &ut the potenti%l for loc)'
in %lw%ys e-ists in %ny propriet%ry offering. Open source is the perpetu%l %nti#ote to loc) in, provi#e#
th%t the open source offering is 2goo# enough2 comp%re# to its propriet%ry counterp%rt. At 8uc%lyptus,
we2re focuse# on &eing the 2goo# enough2 open source priv%te clou# %n%logue to Am%?on <e& (ervices.
hat fields are you seeing the greatest demand for private cloudsdriven
by Eucalyptus# Any areas you are particularly proud of#
I woul# s%y th%t our strongest story is currently the hy&ri# #evGteststory. Applic%tion #evelopment in
the clou# c%n &e %n e-pensive proposition, %n# testing %pplic%tions for corner c%ses c%n &e %cutely
e-pensive. The rise of Continuous Integr%tion h%s m%#e softw%re testing f%r more effective &ut %t the
cost of consuming w%y more on'#em%n# resources. It #oesn2t re%lly m%)e sense to p%y % premium for
those resources. C%ny org%ni?%tions %re fin#ing th%t it m%)es more sense to 2&uy the &%se26%n# the
more committe# % customer &ecomes to A<( for pro#uction, the more sense it m%)es to h%ve %
comp%ti&le lower'cost infr%structure for non'pro#uction use.
Once th%t infr%structure is in pl%ce, opportunities to lever%ge th%t infr%structure for other hy&ri# use
c%ses &ecome o&vious. Our l%rgest %n# most successful customers %re #oing precisely th%t.
4oftware tends to have passionate$ vocal user communities, Open source
software has an additional community for developers that often contains
members of the user community, How do you guarantee each improves
the other#
Th%t2s % goo# 9uestion. +et me )now when you2ve got % goo# %nswerK
(eriously/ there %re no gu%r%ntees. One thing I h%ve foun#, though/ f%iling to i#entify %n# m%rgin%li?e
poisonous person%lities is % gu%r%ntee th%t users %n# #evelopers Vwon2tV &uil# % successful pro1ect
together.
All successful communities$ no matter the conte"t$ have great leadership,
Considering both previous and current roles in the open source
community$ what makes a good leader#
All of the st%n#%r# le%#ership tr%its %pply/ strong communic%tion s)ills, emp%thy, #ecisiveness, the
%&ility to get the &est out of people. 0ut, I thin) th%t for open source le%#ers, the %&ility to un#erst%n#
the motiv%tions of pro1ect p%rticip%nts is especi%lly import%nt. Open source pr%ctitioners c%n h%ve
v%stly #ifferent motiv%tions for contri&uting, %n# the %&ility to un#erst%n# those motiv%tions, %n# to
%#%pt the pro1ect to those motiv%tions, is %n un#err%te# s)ill in my e-perience.
I have seen your face at many open source conferences, hat speaker or
speakers have inspired you the most and why#
+%wrence +essig %n# Cich%el Tiem%nn. +essig &ec%use of how he uses single'wor# sli#es to #rive his
present%tions in % compelling w%y, %n# Tiem%nn &ec%use he p%c)s so much wis#om into his
present%tions. I fin# myself going &%c) to Tiem%nn2s sli#e #ec)s ye%rs l%ter.
*ecently you moderated a !campfire! discussion at O4CO; that you
described as =Cloud Horror 4tories,= Are there any spooky tales that you
can share#
I w%s surprise# %t how m%ny of the horror stories people sh%re# were %#ministr%tive in n%ture. (m%rt
sys%#mins %re trying to get %he%# of the curve &y inst%lling self'service clou# infr%structures, %n#
&usinesses, p%rticul%rly leg%l #ep%rtments, %re reluct%nt to give in#ivi#u%ls th%t level of control.
(oftw%re licenses %n# clou#s %re p%rticul%rly pro&lem%tic. 0usinesses %re %fr%i#6%n# perh%ps rightly
so, in some c%ses6th%t users will #eploy #o?ens of copies of % piece of softw%re th%t isn2t properly
license#. <hich is, &y thew%y, %nother re%son th%t open source softw%re fits so perfectly with the clou#,
%n# h%s come to #omin%te.
6ive us a sneak peek to your All )hings Open talk /without giving too
much away0#
8uc%lyptus is hol#ing its own in % m%r)et with some pretty gig%ntic %n# strongly motiv%te# pl%yers.
$ow #o we #o it7 0y m%rrying &est pr%ctices in open source with the &est #e f%cto st%n#%r#s.
Open source hardware holds the same promise as
software
Phil Shapiro: 0ducator and open source so't*are enthusiast (originally published September 2!"#
I see (p%r)>un 8lectronics mentione# often in my soci%l me#i% stre%m, so I 1umpe# %t the ch%nce to
interview Chris Cl%r), the comp%ny2s 4irector of Inform%tion Technology.
From their website: Spark8un is an online retail store that sells the bits and pieces to make your
electronics projects possible) (ur e5er9gro*ing product catalog boasts o5er ",: components and
*idgets designed to help you unleash your inner in5entor))) $hrough our 4epartment o' 0ducation,
Spark8un o''ers classes and online tutorials designed to help educate indi5iduals in the *onder'ul
*orld o' embedded electronics))) 1e belie5e an open market is a healthy market and *e open source all
o' our product designs) Spark8un subscribes to the belie' that open source tech encourages inno5ation
and creati5ity, *hile helping empo*er indi5iduals to build the projects they *ant)
In this interview with Chris, I %s)e# some pressing 9uestions %&out who is and isn;t em&r%cing open
source h%r#w%re %n# how (p%r)>un is e#uc%ting the m%sses in % new w%y. .lus, he%r %&out the power
of open source from (p%r)>un2s C8O ,%th%n (ei#le, who recently presente# %t T84- 0oul#er. An#,
re%# more from Chris on Opensource.com %&out how open source h%s helpe# (p%r)>un succee#.
How did you first get into open source#
>or me person%lly, w%y &%c) when I w%s twelve I #i# some volunteer wor) %t my 4%#2s office6%
spectroscopy rese%rch l%& %t the *( 3eologic%l (urvey. (ystems were v%rying fl%vors of *ni-,
prim%rily (ol%ris, %ll running S <in#ows. This w%s my first t%ste of %n open source pl%tform, %n#
while I continue# to p%y some %ttention to th%t worl#, it %ll seeme# % &it out of my re%ch. I first got into
progr%mming in mi##le school &y writing 0A(IC progr%ms on my TI'@2 inste%# of p%ying %ttention in
cl%ss. In high school, &y w%y of *senet, I &eg%n to fin# whole c%ches of free open source progr%ms for
%ll v%ri%nts of TI gr%phing c%lcul%tors H&y then I h%# % couple of othersI in &oth 0A(IC %n# %ssem&ly.
Then, in my senior ye%r economics cl%ss, we were loo)ing %t stoc) m%r)et tren#s when the instructor
#rew our %ttention to this upst%rt th%t w%s m%)ing some &ig w%ves6some mysterious new comp%ny
c%lle# "e# $%t. EI2ve he%r# of themK,E I e-cl%ime#. Then, I procee#e# to e#uc%te the cl%ss on wh%t &its I
)new %&out open source oper%ting systems. It w%s the pro# I nee#e# to 1ump &%c) into th%t worl#, %n#
I2ve &een there ever since.
>or (p%r)>un, the comp%ny w%s truly open source from the get'go. It st%rte# in 200! with % #u%l
purpose/ provi#e % trustworthy e'commerce e-perience for &uying uni9ue components from
m%nuf%cturers who h%# never he%r# of e'commerce %n#, %s % &onus, provi#e % pl%tform where ,%te %n#
his other frien#s pursuing their electric%l engineering #egrees coul# sell their person%l #esigns. >or
those #esigne# items, &re%)out &o%r#s %n# the li)e, propriet%ry w%s never % consi#er%tion. Cost #esigns
were 9uic)ly prototype# %n# iter%te# upon continuously. >reely provi#ing the source for firmw%re %n#
#esign files w%s &oth % necessity for en# users to un#erst%n# %n# use the pro#ucts in their own pro1ects
&ut %lso %n invit%tion to help improve the pro#ucts for themselves %n# future customers. It2s %s if
(p%r)>un is % fish %n# open source is the w%ter in which it w%s &orn %n# h%s %lw%ys live#.
If more companies embraced open source hardware$ would that have an
overall positive effect on the quantity and quality of new electronic devices
being produced#
+ong term/ yes. Open source is % g%me you pl%y for long'term g%ins %cross the &o%r#, not for short'
term profits. The entire Internet is still gre%tly &enefiting from open source innov%tions from the
e%rliest #%ys of *ni- &%c) in the L0s. If more comp%nies em&r%ce# open source h%r#w%re to#%y then
solutions to common h%r#w%re pro&lems th%t %re o&1ectively optim%l Hr%ther th%n tune# for generous
m%rginsI c%n s%tur%te the community. This &ecomes the rising mount%in on which new st%rtups c%n
st%n# to re%ch gre%ter %#v%ncements6%n# one they c%n c%pit%li?e on for free.
Open source h%r#w%re hol#s the s%me promise %s open source softw%re/ solve the most critic%l %n#
common pro&lems in the open where th%t solution c%n &e sh%re# %n# refine#, freeing up cycles to focus
on the more nu%nce# pro&lems6until those &ecome so common, wi#espre%#, %n# eleg%ntly solve# in
the open th%t they &ecome commo#iti?e# too. "inse %n# repe%t over ye%rs %n# gener%tions %n#, over%ll,
the 9u%ntities %n# 9u%lities of new electronic #evices %re elev%te#.
Do you think schools and public libraries have a duty to inform the public
about the benefits of open source software and open source hardware as
an e"tension of their e"isting mission to ma"imi2e the distribution of
knowledge# If there is such a duty$ are these institutions living up to
fulfilling such a duty#
(chools %n# pu&lic li&r%ries %&solutely h%ve % #uty to inform the pu&lic %&out the &enefits of open
source. Open source is groun#e# in the s%me principle th%t schools %n# li&r%ries espouse/ th%t
inform%tion shoul# &e freely %ccessi&le. In gener%l such institutions %re not p%rticul%rly %w%re of the
open source worl#, l%rgely #ue to its r%pi#ly ch%nging n%ture %n# the inherent #ifficulty such
institutions h%ve in %#%pting to r%pi# ch%nge. It woul# &e unf%ir to l%m&%ste Americ%n pu&lic school
%n# pu&lic li&r%ry systems for f%lling short hereB open source technology c%n &e technic%lly ch%llenging
%n# is only one niche in the v%st worl# of inform%tion they must support. At (p%r)>un we2re seeing th%t
%s less of % crisis %n# more of %n opportunity. <ith % te%m #e#ic%te# to e#uc%tion we often wor) with
pu&lic schools %n# li&r%ries to gui#e un#erst%n#ing %n# support intelligent choices in wh%t %spects of
open source softw%re %n# h%r#w%re to %#opt %n# prolifer%te.
hat states or countries are the largest purchasers of 4park3un products
and would you say those geographical regions have a greater tinkering
culture#
(p%r)>un2s s%les &y region tr%c) pretty closely to popul%tion centers, %t le%st in the *nite# (t%tes. ,ew
Dor), C%liforni%, >lori#%, %n# Te-%s 1oin Color%#o to roun# out the top five st%tes. Color%#o2s % given,
simply &ec%use it2s our &%c)y%r# %n# it2s 1ust e%siest to get the wor# out in our imme#i%te
neigh&orhoo#. It coul# &e %rgue# th%t the tin)ering cultures %re gener%lly more concentr%te# in %n#
ne%r l%rger cities, %n# this m%)es sense. +one tin)erers %re everywhere, &ut e-posure to the universe of
invention is wh%t #r%ws new people into the fr%y, %n# we gener%lly see more h%c)er sp%ces %n# other
supportive resources ne%r those #ense popul%tion centers. 3lo&%lly, since (p%r)>un is still only in
8nglish, we see our gre%test imp%ct %cross C%n%#%, 8urope, %n# Austr%li%B though 8%st Asi%n countries
li)e :%p%n %n# (outh Fore% #efinitely h%ve %n %ppetite. Ag%in it2s % com&in%tion of #ense popul%tion
centers with supportive resources %n# mi##le cl%sses with the me%ns to 1ump in th%t helps the tin)ering
culture tr%nsition from % sp%rse %rr%y of lone inventors to % thriving community of p%ssion%te cre%tors.
hy is it important to promote inclusion of women and minorities in maker
culture#
C%)ing is univers%l. It2s 1ust something hum%ns #o. A m%1or component of our 20th century e-perience,
however, w%s %n up&ringing with pre#etermine# roles for gen#ers %n# ethnic groups. Oftentimes those
roles #i#n2t f%vor cert%in groups e-ploring %n inn%te interest in engineering or progr%mming, %n# th%t2s
% #eeply roote# pro&lem th%t is t%)ing gener%tions to solve. .romoting inclusion of everyone in m%)er
culture, with %n emph%sis on women %n# minorities Hth%t h%ve tr%#ition%lly &een #iscour%ge#I, is vit%l
to &oth )eeping the movement true to its un#erlying principles %n# to )eeping the influ- of v%rie# life
e-periences pushing the culture in cre%tive new #irections.
Any interesting stories of 4park3un products being used right in 7oulder
or nearby Denver#
There %re 9uite % few, so here2s % s%mpling sp%nning the %ge spectrum.
(t%rting with the <O<K Chil#ren2s Cuseum in +%f%yette, % pl%ce #e#ic%te# to the youngest chil#ren,
there is % v%riety of e-hi&its powere# &y (p%r)>un ge%r, inclu#ing/ % win# tunnel, #isco glo&e optics,
inter%ctive grocery sc%nners, tr%ins, %n# % pir%te ship. *p into high school the (t. Vr%in %n# ()yline
$igh (chools ne%r&y h%ve &egun cr%fting pilot progr%ms te%ching Ar#uino %n# microcontrollers using
(p%r)>un Inventor2s Fits. <%rren Tech, % technic%l high school, is using our pro#ucts in con1unction
with ,A(A2s $*,C$ progr%m to prototype e-periments for ?ero'3 %ircr%ft. >in%lly, up %t the college
level, &oth the Color%#o (chool of Cines %n# the *niversity of Color%#o %re using Ar#uino &o%r#s
supplie# through (p%r)>un to control l%sers for im%ging mi-ing flui#s %n# &iologic%l tissue.
Can you share some general information about the talk you.ll be giving at
the All )hings Open conference#
At the All Things Open Conference this Octo&er in "%leigh, I2ll &e #iscussing the process of (pen
Sourcing Hard*are using &itHub. 3it$u&, %n e-tremely popul%r pl%tform for open sourcing softw%re
pro1ects for coll%&or%tive #evelopment, %ppe%rs on the surf%ce li)e % n%tur%l fit for open sourcing %
&evy of h%r#w%re pro#ucts for community %ccess, iter%tion, %n# refinement. In pr%ctice, however, tools
#esigne# for softw%re #on2t necess%rily tr%nsl%te into the physic%l worl# of printe# circuit &o%r#s %n#
components. I2ll #iscuss how (p%r)>un open source# h%r#w%re the e%sy H&ut limite#I w%y right from
th%t st%rt %n# how we2re trying to m%)e the e-perience more con#ucive to community involvement
using 3it$u&.
)ips for community managers and the state of
Open4ocial from 4ugarC*1!s Dohn 1ertic
Jason Hibbets: Project Manager in Corporate Marketing at Red Hat (originally published September
2!"#
A writer, community m%n%ger, %n# st%n#%r#s pun#it6:ohn Certic is % 1%c) of %ll tr%#es. At (ug%rC"C,
his offici%l title is (olutions Architect %n# Community C%n%ger. $e is the %uthor of two &oo)s/ $he
4e'initi5e &uide to SugarCRM: +etter +usiness .pplications %n# +uilding on SugarCRM: Creating
.pplications the 0asy 1ay. An#, he is % fre9uent conference spe%)er. <e loo) forw%r# to :ohn2s
e-pertise %t the upcoming All Things Open conference on Octo&er 2! %n# 2JK
There2s % lot going on in :ohn2s worl# these #%ys6(ug%rC"C recently secure# WJ0 million in fun#ing
from 3ol#m%n (%chs %n# is loo)ing to m%)e gre%t stri#es in 20J. <e %lso %s)e# Certic %&out his role
%t the Open(oci%l >oun#%tion. 4iscover more %&out Certic, (ug%rC"C %n# the Open(oci%l foun#%tion
in his interview with me.
)ell us a bit about yourself,
>or my #%y 1o& %t (ug%rC"C, I help #evelopers %roun# the worl# get integr%tions from concept to
pro#uct, wor)ing with %ll elements of #esign, %rchitecture, %n# structure. As % p%rt of th%t 1o&, I wor)
with v%rious open source %n# st%n#%r#s &o#ies, inclu#ing O<2, .$., %n# Open(oci%l. These help
sh%pe the future of the &usiness technology l%n#sc%pe.
How is 4ugarC*1 involved with the Open4ocial 3oundation and what type
of contributions are made to that pro-ect#
(ug%rC"C is % corpor%te sponsor of the pro1ect, with le%#ership roles in #irecting the future of the spec
%n# open source components. <e %re loo)ing to help #rive % new #irection with the foun#%tion in
cre%ting % more eng%ge'%&le community %n# pro#uct for open source %s well %s &usiness nee#s.
How has open source influenced the corporate culture at 4ugarC*1#
Open source is %t the core of everything we #o. <hile we #o rele%se % 3.+v! pro#uct, even our
commerci%l pro#ucts %re m%#e %v%il%&le to customers %n# p%rtners with the full source co#e so they c%n
customi?e the pl%tform to solve the &usiness nee#s %t h%n#. This is % uni9ue #ifferenti%tor for us in the
C"C m%r)et, %n# it h%s helpe# &ring us very l%rge %n# lucr%tive customers where other C"C provi#ers
coul#n2t.
hat are some of the roadmap items for 4ugarC*1# And$ for the
Open4ocial 3oundation#
>or (ug%rC"C, we h%ve %n e-citing new pro#uct coming out this f%ll th%t will ch%nge the l%n#sc%pe of
C"C. The &u?? %roun# it h%s helpe# move us up in the 3%rtner C%gic Mu%#r%nt to 2Vision%ry2, %n# it
h%s helpe# us secure % l%rge roun# of fun#ing HWJ0 millionI from 3ol#m%n (%chs. This momentum will
en%&le us to e-ecute %t % higher level, m%)ing it e%sier for customer f%cing profession%ls to &e more
pro#uctive %n# &etter eng%ge with every user, %n# every customer, every time.
On the Open(oci%l >oun#%tion front, we %re em&%r)ing on % new p%rtnership with the <!C to #rive the
e-isting spec forw%r# %n# m%)e it more %ppro%ch%&le for &oth &usinesses %n# #evelopers worl#wi#e.
<e h%ve %n e-citing 20J in store, %n# we loo) to &e eng%ging 9uite he%vily in open source %s the )ey
c%t%lyst in moving forw%r# the soci%l we&.
Any tips for open source community managers that you!d like to share#
I thin) the &iggest thing I2# sh%re is/ c%refully m%n%ge your "OI H"eturn on InvestmentI. 3oing to %n
event, hol#ing % h%c)%thon, or spen#ing % lot of time in the forums m%y seem li)e % gre%t i#e%
t%ctic%lly, &ut it2s h%r# to show progress %t the en# of the #%y %n# you2ll often feel &urnt out. Inste%#,
concentr%te on wh%t will &ring you the &iggest &%ng for your &uc).
Can you give us a sneak preview into what you will cover in your All
)hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
This is % new t%l) for me where I2m loo)ing to e-plore the ch%nging l%n#sc%pe of how org%ni?%tions
eng%ge with open source communities. <e2ve seen v%rious &usiness mo#els %n# eng%gement str%tegies
over the ye%rs, %long with levels of success %n# f%ilure with using open source %s the #ifferenti%tor in
v%rious m%r)ets. In this t%l), I2ll &e sh%ring my view of the worl# Hwhich m%y &e % &it controversi%lI
%n# loo)ing for lively #iscussion on wh%t the future hol#s.
)he closed source enterprise is becoming a thing of
the past
Robin Muil*ijk: +oard member, e- Publish Community Project +oard, .mbassador (pensource)com
(originally published September 2!"#
An#y $unt is % successful %uthor %n# pu&lisher, progr%mmer, %n# foun#er of the Agile Alli%nce. In this
interview, he sh%res with us wh%t #rove him to open source %n# wh%t it is th%t #rives it in enterprise
&usiness to#%y.
EThe ol#, propriet%ry oper%ting system comp%nies %ll #ie#. Close# source progr%mming l%ngu%ges %re
mostly #e%#,E he s%ys. EOpen source isn2t % novelty %nymore, it2s 1ust % &ig p%rt of how softw%re is.E
An#y %lso runs % pu&lishing comp%ny with fellow open source #evelopment %uthor, 4%ve Thom%s. The
.r%gm%tic 0oo)shelf h%s pu&lishe# close to 200 softw%re #evelopment titles over the p%st ten ye%rs6
%ll h%n#'pic)e# with the thought th%t if they2# w%nt to re%# it, you2# w%nt to re%# it.
)ell us a bit about yourself and your background, During your career$
when did you first cross paths with open source$ and what was this
e"perience like#
8%rly on in my c%reer, I wor)e# for ATNT where I h%# %ccess to the *ni- source co#e. The re%l stuff. I
#i#n2t %ppreci%te %t the time wh%t % privilege th%t w%s. After I left th%t 1o&, it &ec%me more %pp%rent 1ust
how v%lu%&le th%t e-perience w%s.
.u&lic #om%in progr%ms were %v%il%&le %n# in wi#espre%# use even then, from -mo#em %n# &ulletin
&o%r# systems, %n# l%ter even Cini- H%n e#uc%tion%l *ni- systemI. 0ut there w%s %lw%ys % sense th%t
these pieces e-iste# &ec%use you coul#n2t get to the Egoo# stuff,E th%t is, the re%l *ni- )ernel %n# the
re%l %pplic%tions. It felt to me li)e something of % sh%#ow system, che%p )noc)'offs of the re%l thing.
I h%# &een #oing softw%re #evelopment %t home on %n ATNT 6!00, which w%s %n e%rly 2@6'vint%ge .C
th%t c%me with ATNT'&lesse# *ni-. I h%# Ethe re%l thing,E or %t le%st %s close %s one coul# get in those
#%ys. 0ut %s % consumer, I #i#n2t h%ve %ccess to the source co#e. I coul#n2t mo#ify the )ernel or %ny of
the system %pps. I &eg%n to re%li?e how frustr%ting th%t re%lly w%s.
(omewhere in the e%rly ;;02s, I st%rte# using (l%c)w%re2s #istri&ution of +inu-, pro&%&ly %roun#
version ! or so. It still felt % little &it secon#'cl%ss, li)e % repl%cement for the re%l thing, &ut the ti#e w%s
&eginning to turn. 0y the mi# ;02s I w%s #oing %ll #evelopment on v%rious +inu- pl%tforms, using %ll
open source tools. It w%s something of % novelty %t the time, perh%ps, &ut the import%nt thing w%s th%t it
wor)e#. It w%s no longer % Erepl%cementE for something gr%n#erB it h%# &ecome the thing itself.
(ince then, my progr%mming pr%ctice %n# our .r%gm%tic 0oo)shelf pu&lishing comp%ny h%s &een
focuse# on open source solutions. The ol#, propriet%ry oper%ting system comp%nies %ll #ie#. Close#
source progr%mming l%ngu%ges %re mostly #e%#. Open source isn2t % novelty %nymore, it2s 1ust % &ig
p%rt of how softw%re is.
Open source has become mainstream and used in the enterprise, hat is
your view on agile software development and open source development#
Two huge simil%rities/ &oth grew out of frustr%te# in#ivi#u%ls2 nee#s to get something #one. 0oth will
ultim%tely #is%ppe%r %s % Ething.E Consi#er the %rch%ic term Ee'commerce,E which w%s &%n#ie# %&out,
#iscusse#, %n# #e&%te# for m%ny ye%rs. ,ow there2s no such thing re%lly, it2s 1ust Ecommerce.E
C%ny progr%mmers %re using %gile #evelopment techni9ues %n# i#e%s, &ut %ren2t c%lling it %s suchB it2s
1ust how mo#ern softw%re is #evelope#. (imil%rly, they %re using open source st%c)s from the oper%ting
system up through the we& fr%mewor), l%ngu%ges, #%t%&%ses, %n# &rowser without it &eing % &ig #e%l.
Close# source &rowsers %re picture# %s runts of the litter, sitting in the corner %n# e%ting p%ste. ,ot
#e%# yet, &ut incre%singly irrelev%nt %n# sli#ing tow%r# the ultim%te resting pl%ce %s % footnote in
history.
6ive us an idea of what developers can learn from reading the Pragmatic
Programmer and Practices of an Agile Developer# Can your readers
e"pect to see a new book release any time soon#
Pragmatic Programmer %n# Practices o' an .gile 4e5eloper were &oth written with one go%l in min#/
to help #evelopers. Interestingly, even Pragmatic Programmer which w%s written &%c) %t the turn of
the century, mentions mostly open source tools %n# l%ngu%ges.
Tools %lone only get you so f%r, you h%ve to )now how to use them. Those metho#s %n# techni9ues
shoul# &e free H%s in &eerI 1ust %s the tools %re. <e loo) %t %gile metho#s %n# see th%t %ll the
inform%tion is freely %v%il%&le6&ut it w%sn2t %lw%ys so. .ropriet%ry, close# source #evelopment
metho#s were once trie#, too. Dou h%# to p%y % license fee in or#er to 1oin %n# p%rticip%te. >ortun%tely
th%t mo#el is #ying %s well.
I2ve written seven &oo)s on progr%mming so f%r, %n# I2m wor)ing on my @th currently. The pu&lishing
comp%ny th%t 4%ve Thom%s %n# I foun#e#, The .r%gm%tic 0oo)shelf, h%s pu&lishe# close to 200
softw%re #evelopment titles over the p%st ten ye%rs6%ll h%n#'pic)e# with the i#e% th%t is we2# w%nt to
re%# it, you2# w%nt to re%# it.
4%ve2s 1ust finishing up his l%test &oo) on the open source progr%mming l%ngu%ge 8li-ir, which I
highly recommen#. If you h%ven2t yet venture# into the new worl# of function%l progr%mming, it2s %
gre%t pl%ce to &egin.
One of the goals of All )hings Open conference is to educate people on
how to make open source work for their organi2ation, As an author and
lecturer$ what will you share with the audience#
8verythingK Cy e-periences writing co#e, &eing p%rt of the Agile C%nifesto, running % popul%r
pu&lishing comp%ny... %n# I2ll pee) into th%t cryst%l &%ll to see wh%t2s coming ne-t.
Hampton Catlin on ikipedia 1obile$ 4ass$ product
design$ and breaking conventions
6uis /b<=e3: $echnical 6eader at 7it*are /nc), 4irector o' (pen Source Community 4e5elopment at
the (pen Source 0HR .gent ((S0HR.# (originally published (ctober 2!"#
$%mpton C%tlin is the cre%tor of (%ss, $%ml, <i)ipe#i% Co&ile, Tritium, %n# Coovwe&. $e2s %lso the
%uthor of the .r%gm%tic 3ui#e to (%ss %n# is the foun#er of the li&s%ss pro1ect.
$e2s )nown for % rel%-e#, 1o)ing, self'#eprec%ting style6mi-e# with very strong opinions, % #irty
mouth, %n# % pench%nt for &uil#ing technologies th%t &re%) convention HsuccessfullyI.
I got to ch%t with $%mpton %he%# of the upcoming All Things Open conference where he2ll &e
spe%)ing. "e%# more in this interview.
)ell us a bit about your background,
I2m pro&%&ly &est )nown %s the inventor of (%ss, % l%ngu%ge for cre%ting powerful C((. I2m %lso the
cre%tor of the $%ml m%r)up l%ngu%ge, %n# spent sever%l ye%rs &uil#ing %n# e-p%n#ing m.wi)ipe#i%.org
H<i)ipe#i% mo&ileI. To#%y, I2m the CTO %t Coovwe&, e-p%n#ing our responsive #elivery pl%tform %n#
helping to grow the comp%ny from seven to over 00. Dou c%n %lso follow me on Twitter.
3rom your work on ikipedia mobile$ should we suspect the coming end
of the Desktop age#
Dou )now, I get this 9uestion % lot. .erson%lly, I #on2t thin) th%t there is %nything %nt%gonistic %&out the
rel%tionship &etween #es)tops, l%ptops, t%&lets, %n# mo&ile #evices. They %re %ll 1ust pushing tow%r#s
m%)ing us more connecte#, %n# there is % lot more sh%re# innov%tion th%n not.
As f%r %s the 2#es)top %ge2 &eing the only pl%tform, th%t en#e# the moment (teve :o&s steppe# on st%ge
%n# intro#uce# the i.hone. 0ut, #es)top m%chines %re &y no me%ns p%ssX. Cy wor) %t Coovwe&, %n#
gener%lly ch%mpioning responsive #elivery, is %ll %&out unifying we& %ssets in % pr%gm%tic %n#
effective w%y. An# #efinitely the p%st five ye%rs of my c%reer h%s &een respon#ing to the new
ch%llenges th%t mo&ile &rings, %n# &ringing those lessons to the #es)top tooK
Is this ikipedia 1obile opening the doors for an even greater community
of ikipedians to gather data and enrich it #
For example, the Wikipedia Loves Monuments event will be a breeze now that we can add images
by directly taking them with cell phone cameras and uploading them using the Wikipedia Mobile
interace!
Dou )now, I re%lly h%te th%t I never got to wor) on pro1ects li)e th%t while I w%s %t the <i)ime#i%
>oun#%tion. 0rion Vi&&er w%s the CTO %t the time I st%rte# there, %n# he re%lly s%w the mo&ile w%ve
coming %n# t%s)e# me with helping to cre%te %n %wesome mo&ile %pplic%tion for <i)ipe#i%.
I, however, first w%nte# to l%unch % mo&ile we& version. I felt I coul# hit more #evices, in more
l%ngu%ges, f%ster, if I st%rte# with the we& %n# then move# to the n%tive %pplic%tions. In the three ye%rs
I w%s there I spent so much time trying to sc%le, &oth servers %n# l%ngu%ges, &y simply focusing on
re%#ing th%t I never got time to re%lly m%)e the pro#uct inter%ctive. +uc)ily, Tom%s? >inc is the
4irector of Co&ile now %t the >oun#%tion, %n# he2s re%lly &ringing in these gre%t inter%ctive %n#
%##itive mo&ile fe%tures. They %re #oing some re%lly impressive wor).
4hare your e"perience working with ikipedians,
<i)ipe#i%ns %re some of the h%r#est wor)ing, most i#e%listic, honest, frien#ly, %n# p%ssion%te people
you coul# possi&ly wor) with. Anything I nee#e#, % volunteer woul# h%ppily helpK
The only neg%tive is th%t wor)ing %t the >oun#%tion me%ns th%t you %re un#er % &it of % microscope. I
h%# to le%rn to &e very c%reful %&out wh%t I s%i#, to ensure there w%s no %m&iguity or possi&le
misinterpret%tion. I le%rne# th%t the h%r# w%y % couple of timesK 0ut, the sheer power %n# p%ssion of
<i)ipe#i%ns m%#e th%t sm%ll tr%#e well worth it. Its gre%t )nowing thous%n#s of people h%ve your &%c)
when wor)ing on % pro1ect li)e th%t.
4ass enables us to create cleaner files than C44 does, Is it fair to say that
4ass is to C44 what CEE is to C#
$%K I2# r%ther thin) of it %s "u&y or .ython to C, &ut %ny such met%phor m%)es me &lush. (%ss st%rte#
%s one of those p%ssion pro1ects off of $%ml. I w%s wor)ing with %n incre#i&ly t%lente# #esigner %n#
C(( #eveloper6Anthony <%tts6%n# I w%tche# how h%r# he struggle# to #o the right thing with C((.
Th%t is, to follow &est pr%ctices %n# m%)e gre%t sem%ntic m%r)upB he re%lly h%# to #o % lot of te#ious
wor). I then convince# ,%th%n <ei?en&%um to &uil# the interpreter for it %t the "%ilsConf in 200L, %n#
he2s spent the l%st si- ye%rs on the pro1ect. It2s grown into something w%y cr%?ier th%n I h%# ever
e-pecte#. I thought it woul# &e %n o&scure tool th%t me %n# my te%m woul# use %n# woul#n2t ever get
tr%ction. I w%s very, very wrong.
hat is responsive delivery#
+ots of comp%nies %re trying to #o pure responsive we& #esign we&sites with 1ust me#i% 9ueries, %n#
I2ve seen m%ny of them struggling. A techni9ue th%t wor)s gre%t for % new, sm%ll pro1ect is not the s%me
thing th%t wor)s for l%rge e-isting we& properties. It2s e-tremely tough to #elivery e-%ctly the s%me
$TC+ %n# #esign compelling e-periences on %ll #evices, with only C(( %t your #ispos%l.
"esponsive #elivery is % metho#ology of com&ining responsive we& #esign techni9ues with server si#e
components th%t en%&le front en# engineers to r%#ic%lly ch%nge, #esign, customi?e, %n# e-p%n# the
e-periences in#epen#ently of the &%c)en# te%m. At Coovwe&, I2ve &uilt % fr%mewor) %n# pl%tform th%t
m%)es this very e%sy for l%rge te%ms to &uil# gre%t we& e-periences for %ll #ifferent types of #evices
%n# upgr%#e e-isting we& st%c)s to use the newest front en# technologies without necess%rily h%ving to
completely rewrite %ll the &usiness logic.
3or developers e"cited about getting into mobile$ would you advise them
to follow the web path#
A&solutely. I thin) to#%y the we& is more import%nt th%n ever. It2s the glue th%t hol#s everything
together. (ure, n%tive %pplic%tions %re gre%t, they h%ve %lw%ys &een interesting. 0ut, the we& h%s re%lly
m%ture# over the course of my c%reer. The f%ct you could &uil# most %pplic%tions in the &rowser now is
something th%t woul# &e tot%lly unthin)%&le in the p%st.
4hare some lessons you!ve learned from building 1oovweb as a business
around open source# How can we help more open source developers to
think in entrepreneurial terms#
De%h, Coovwe& is &uilt with 00= open source %pplic%tions %n# we sponsor % lot of open source
pro1ects. It2s 1ust p%rt of how we run our &usiness.
The i#e% for the pl%tform c%me from my wor) %t <i)ime#i%. I h%# thous%n#s of lines of co#e to &uil#
the mo&ile site %n# so much co#e replic%tion. I )new th%t if %n org%ni?%tion li)e the <i)ime#i%
>oun#%tion with their e-cellent engineering culture h%# #ifficulty supporting m%ny #evices, I
ch%llenge# myself on how to &uil# % pl%tform th%t woul# #irectly %##ress those issues th%t I %ssume#
other &usinesses were h%ving. An#, it turns out I w%s very, very correct.
9our work on Haml advocates the importance of beauty and elegance in
coding, Is there such a thing as ob-ective elegance in programming#
As I le%rne# with $%ml, &e%uty is in the eye of the &ehol#er. .eople interpret $%ml so m%ny #ifferent
w%ys, %n# typic%lly those interpret%tions hinge on wh%t people thin) my intention w%s when &uil#ing it.
It2s very interesting.
.eople v%ry wil#ly on wh%t they thin) $%ml is #esigne# to m%-imi?e. As f%r %s o&1ective eleg%nce, it2s
impossi&le. Cy ethos is %lw%ys to strongly ch%llenge the e-isting %ssumptions th%t seem univers%l %n#
to &uil# something th%t you c%n &e prou# of. 8verything I h%ve ever &uilt h%s pisse# someone off, %n#
I2m very prou# of th%t. 8ven Coovwe&, though it h%s l%rge institution%l customers, t%)es % very
contr%ri%n view on m%ny %spects. An#, in my opinion, the only w%y to &e very right is to &e willing to
&e very wrong.
Are there too many web frameworks#
"We can barely keep track#!
$%K Oh m%n, too m%ny fr%mewor)s7 $ow %&out l%ngu%gesK
I c%n2t stop m%)ing l%ngu%gesK Cy newest is Tritium, % :%v%script'simil%r l%ngu%ge th%t repl%ces S(+T,
since I h%te# how S(+T wor)e#, &ut love# wh%t it w%s trying to #o. If S(+T h%#n2t &een so horri&le, I
thin) th%t the we& woul# h%ve wor)e# out % lot #ifferently.
(o, I coul#n2t help myself &ut m%)e % new l%ngu%ge. (omeone shoul# stop meK 0ut ye%h, there %re % lot
of we& fr%mewor)s &ec%use there %re % lot of opinion%te# people. The only w%y technology progresses
is people m%)ing % lot of stuff, %n# some of it en#s up &eing e-cellent. Th%t2s how we continue. (o, I
s%y, if you h%ve % contr%ri%n i#e%, #o itK
ithout giving too much away$ tell us what we can e"pect from your All
)hings Open conference talk,
I2m going to &e t%l)ing %&out how to &uil# the right thing. I2m going to t%l) %&out some of my thoughts
on pro#uct #esign, softw%re, %n# how to )now if you %re on the right tr%c) with %n i#e% or pro1ect. It2s %
re%lly fun t%l), I2m e-cite# %&out it.
Open source under the lens of an intellectual
property lawyer
Jen 1ike: Content editor and strategist 'or (pensource)com (originally published September 2!"#
$%ve you ever won#ere# wh%t, from % &usiness perspective, the worl# of sharing, 'ree, %n# open
source loo)s li)e to % l%wyer7
Ch%llengingK Ch%otic7 Cre%tive.
.%m Cheste) is %n intellectu%l property l%wyer. (he runs Cheste) +eg%l, % pr%ctice th%t focuses on
giving pr%ctic%l, leg%l %#vice on &r%n#ing, m%r)eting, %n# protecting %n# sh%ring content. In this
interview she sh%res with me wh%t c%use# her to ch%llenge tr%#ition%l wis#om &%c) in l%w school, the
)in# of ch%os involve# in %n%ly?ing free %n# open source softw%re through the lens of the l%w, %n# how
cre%tivity is %t the he%rt of it %ll.
here did your path begin veering towards the unique needs of open
source communities and copyright law#
+oo)ing &%c), it st%rte# in l%w school. <e %re t%ught th%t the .%tent %n# Copyright Cl%use of the
Constitution is &%se# on % 9ui# pro 9uo, th%t people won2t cre%te without the incentive of compens%tion,
which is why Congress m%y provi#e % perio# of e-clusivity for p%tents %n# copyrights. 0ut th%t
%ssumption never completely m%#e sense to me. I )new th%t my urge to cre%te w%s intrinsic %n# when I
loo)e# %roun#, I s%w the s%me w%s true of everyone I )new. "emuner%tion is nice, &ut I 1ust never
%ccepte# th%t it w%s the only incentive.
Then in ;;; or 2000, I interviewe# the Commissioner for .%tents %n# Tr%#em%r)s, M. To##
4ic)inson, %n# %s)e# him %&out the incentive mo#el the Constitution presumes. I w%s inspire# to #o it
&ec%use this thing c%lle# open source w%s %chieving some prominence, which confirme# for me %g%in
th%t the &%sic premise for gr%nting copyright might &e fl%we#. I2m sorry to s%y, though, th%t I h%ve no
recollection of wh%t his %nswer w%sK
,evertheless, %s l%wyers we %re t%ught to &e protectionist %n# m%-im%list, %n# I pr%ctice# th%t w%y for
% num&er of ye%rs. <hen I st%rte# wor)ing %t "e# $%t, though, I w%s ch%llenge# to ch%nge my
thin)ing. $ere w%s % very successful comp%ny th%t not only #i#n2t enforce copyright, &ut encour%ge#
everyone to sh%re. It force# me to re%lly e-%mine the roles of copyright %n# tr%#em%r) %n# un#erst%n#
the limits th%t the l%w imposes. Th%t2s %n %re% th%t f%scin%tes meB the l%w #oesn2t re%lly get this thing
c%lle# 'ree and open source, so figuring out how to &oth respect the interests %n# #esires of the >O((
in#ustry while ensuring th%t they will &e protecte# un#er currently'e-isting l%w c%n &e very
ch%llenging.
<hen I #eci#e# to st%rt my own pr%ctice, I w%nte# to continue to wor) with cre%tive communities, &oth
&ec%use I %m philosophic%lly %ligne# with them %n# &ec%use it2s so interesting from % leg%l perspective.
hat e"cites you about open source models# hat do you value about
the open source philosophy#
I &elieve th%t the #evelopment mo#el for free %n# open source softw%re is % superior mo#el. Once I
un#erstoo# th%t the true &enefit of open source #evelopment isn2t 1ust th%t you c%n twe%) the co#e, &ut
th%t you give your wor) &%c) %n# li)ewise you g%in the %#v%nt%ge of everyone else2s wor), it m%#e so
much sense. It2s %n iter%tive process th%t wor)s through tr%nsp%rency %n# coll%&or%tion, %n# when you
st%rt to thin) %&out it, m%ny go%ls, inclu#ing most &usiness go%ls, c%n &e re%che# more e%sily th%t w%y.
I #o, though, %lso respect in#ivi#u%l %ccomplishment. I #on2t me%n to s%y th%t everything cre%tive
shoul# &e #one coll%&or%tively or th%t it shoul# &e freely sh%re#B it2s %n in#ivi#u%l choice. 0ut &ec%use I
%m involve# with open source I h%ve spent % lot of time thin)ing %&out the v%rious things we cre%te %n#
where the &%l%nce might &e for th%t p%rticul%r pursuit, r%ther th%n %ssuming th%t % protectionist st%nce is
%lw%ys &etter.
)ell us a story about Creative Commons licensing,
I #on2t h%ve % client story th%t I c%n sh%re, &ut I h%ve % person%l one. I pu&lish my own &log posts un#er
% Cre%tive Commons 0D',4 license. A frien# spotte# th%t one of my posts h%# &een repu&lishe# on
%nother site &ut without provi#ing %ttri&ution. $e cont%cte# the site to %s) them to correct it, %n# they
9uic)ly o&lige#. 0ut I %lso rec%ll th%t my first re%ction w%s Ethey2re ripping me offKE
It w%s % remin#er th%t not only is the #esire to cre%te intrinsic, &ut there2s %lso %n intrinsic sense of
ownership. Th%t c%n cre%te conflicts, even in the open source worl#.
I %lso #on2t thin) I woul# h%ve re%cte# th%t w%y if the %ttri&ution h%# &een there, %n# it2s pretty
commonly %ccepte# th%t sometimes %ll we w%nt is recognition. <hich, interestingly enough, isn2t
something th%t copyright l%w protects, e-cept for % very n%rrow su&set of cre%tive wor)s protecte# &y
the Visu%l Artists "ights Act. (o it2s %nother e-%mple of how copyright l%w isn2t %lw%ys well'suite# for
protecting wh%t we v%lue.
)ell us about your blog,
Cy &log is Property, /ntangible, %n# it 1ust p%sse# its Ath %nnivers%ry. I cover % very niche %re% of l%w,
the ownership of intellectu%l property. I love re%#ing c%ses6to me it2s li)e re%#ing novels, very hum%n
stories of #ou&le'#e%ling, f%ile# #re%ms, f%mily &etr%y%ls, or Ethere &ut for the gr%ce of 3o#E moments.
(o it2s 1ust fun to sh%re those stories %n# I thin) my three re%#ers re%lly en1oy it too.
hat do you hope to share with the All )hings Open audience in October
this year#
I li)e pu&lic spe%)ing. I w%s %n %#1unct l%w professor for sever%l ye%rs %n# it w%s gre%t tr%ining. Dou
h%ve to le%rn how to thin) f%st on your feet, )now when you c%n %nswer, )now when you h%ve to #efer
%n %nswer, %n# every semester I woul# h%ve % stu#ent who opene# my eyes to something th%t I never
thought of &efore.
<ith All Things Open, I2m on % mission.
I thin) th%t in gener%l technology comp%nies #on2t recogni?e how import%nt their &r%n# is, %n# it2s even
more import%nt in open source where there is no p%tent or copyright e-clusivity % comp%ny c%n
lever%ge6%ll you2ve got is the &r%n#. (o you nee# to protect %n# enh%nce the &r%n#, &ut #o it while
sh%ring co#e %n# fostering % culture of inclusion, which c%n cre%te some interesting tensions.
I2m very ple%se# to &e co'presenting with :ohn A#%ms, who is the 4irector of 3lo&%l 0r%n# (tr%tegy %t
"e# $%t. Through tri%l %n# error we2ve seen % lot of things wor) %n# % lot of things not wor), so I hope
others who %re struggling with the s%me issues will fin# our p%st e-periences helpful.
ho owns an open source brand@the company or
the community#
Jen 1ike: Content editor and strategist 'or (pensource)com (originally published September 2!"#
0eing % &r%n# m%n%ger for %n open source comp%ny6li)e "e# $%t6is completely #ifferent th%n for
tr%#ition%l &r%n#s6li)e Fr%ft, .l%nters, (%r% +ee, %n# +owe2s $ome Improvement.
:ohn A#%ms s%ys he is const%ntly &eing ch%llenge# with 9uestions of ownership. 0ut, he woul#n2t h%ve
it %ny other w%y.
(ince 1oining "e# $%t %s 0r%n# C%n%ger, he2s &een living %n# &re%thing the open source w%y. In this
interview he #iscusses his %ppro%ch to &r%n#ing for Ethe worl#2s open source le%#er.E
As a branding guy$ how did you get into open source#
I &eg%n my c%reer in m%n%gement consulting &ut, %fter e%rning my C0A, I m%#e % c%reer ch%nge into
m%r)eting %n#, more specific%lly, &r%n# m%n%gement. I wor)e# on l%rge, well')nown consumer &r%n#s
inclu#ing Fr%ft, .l%nters, (%r% +ee, %n# +owe2s $ome Improvement &efore le%rning of %n opening on
the &r%n# te%m %t "e# $%t. :oining "e# $%t w%s my first e-posure to the high tech in#ustry %n# to open
source. $owever, from #%y one I &eg%n living %n# &re%thing the "e# $%t &r%n# %n#, &y #ef%ult, the
open source w%y. It truly represents my preferre# w%y of wor)ing with others %n# now I c%n2t see
myself oper%ting %ny other w%y.
In %&'' you wrote an article for Opensource,com about a Harvard
7usiness *eview article written by 4cott 6oodson who said5 =If you really
want to show the world what you believe in and stand for$ how about
telling us what you stand against#= How did this influence your approach
as 7rand 1anager at *ed Hat# And$ what is your new sticky idea#
<riting th%t %rticle, %n# the rese%rch I put in &eforeh%n#, re%lly helpe# me to &etter %rticul%te our &r%n#
str%tegy here %t "e# $%t.
At "e# $%t, we2ve %lw%ys positione# our softw%re6%n# open source softw%re in gener%l6%s % sm%rt
%ltern%tive for enterprising CIOs to the propriet%ry options %t their #ispos%l. <e wor) h%r# to %rticul%te
the %##e# v%lue th%t choosing %n open source %ppro%ch c%n %## to your enterprise. Intern%lly, we2ve
&een using % new phr%se to enc%psul%te th%t v%lue/ community9po*ered inno5ation.
Our &elief is th%t the open source principles of openness, tr%nsp%rency, connecte#ness, %n#
coll%&or%tion %re mirroring m%ny of the m%cro tren#s th%t %re h%ppening on % glo&%l sc%le. <hen
to#%y2s IT profession%ls &egin to rel%te wh%t they2re e-periencing themselves %n# the v%lue of their
connective networ)s on % #%ily &%sis to their &usinesses %n# in#ustries, the power of %n open source
%ppro%ch will &ecome evi#ent.
*ed Hat has grown a lot in the last few years5 reaching ' billion in annual
revenue and moving its global headquarters$ *ed Hat )ower$ to downtown
*aleigh$ ;C, How has your strategy for branding changed along with that
rapid growth#
As complic%te# %s our r%pi# growth h%s m%#e things in m%ny %re%s %cross the comp%ny, I c%n s%y with
confi#ence th%t we h%ve not w%vere# from the core &eliefs th%t represent our &r%n#/ th%t is, th%t open
source represents a better way to both develop technologies and operate at a business level. Our
unw%vering commitment to this philosophy h%s helpe# us rem%in focuse#, eng%ge#, %n# motiv%te# %s %
glo&%l community of "e# $%t %ssoci%tes #espite the inerti% of % r%pi#ly ch%nging comp%ny.
0y em&r%cing %n open source %ppro%ch %n# %ll th%t it ent%ils He.g. meritocr%tic #ecision'm%)ingI, we
h%ve &een %&le to rem%in % rel%tively fl%t org%ni?%tion free from the tr%ppings of hier%rchy %n#
%utocr%tic #ecision'm%)ing. <e continue to em&r%ce coll%&or%tion %s the 2secret s%uce2 for #elivering
innov%tion %t % f%ster p%ce %n# with superior pro#ucts th%n otherwise possi&le.
hat matters most to enterprise businesses right now#
At % surf%ce level, we continue to he%r m%ny of the s%me common concerns %cross our customer &%se/
IT profession%ls %re &eing %s)e# to #o more with less %n#, conse9uently, they %re loo)ing for high
9u%lity solutions %t % high v%lue th%t c%n &e #elivere# 9uic)ly.
Cost, st%&ility, %n# security %re high priorities. $owever, when you #ig % &it #eeper, you le%rn th%t
enterprises %re loo)ing for technology p%rtners th%t c%n not only help them solve to#%y2s pro&lems, &ut
c%n help them %nticip%te wh%t %re tomorrow2s opportunities. As % pure open source comp%ny, we )now
th%t we c%n help our customers t%p into community'powere# innov%tion to not only h%ve visi&ility %n#
%ccess to upstre%m #evelopment, &ut to lever%ge the power of the "e# $%t networ)6encomp%ssing our
#iverse customer &%se, our p%rtners, %n# our involvement in open source communities of #evelopment
6to more 9uic)ly solve their pro&lems with new %n# novel %ppro%ches.
hat will you talk about at the All )hings Open conference coming up in
*aleigh in October /without giving too much away0#
0eing % &r%n# le%#er %t %n open source comp%ny is much #ifferent th%n %t more tr%#ition%l comp%nies,
&ec%use you2re const%ntly &eing ch%llenge# with 9uestions of ownership. <ho owns %n open source
&r%n#6the comp%ny or the community7 An#, these 9uestions &lee# into the leg%l fiel# when the
convers%tion turns to one of tr%#em%r)s.
I %m fortun%te to h%ve wor)e# %longsi#e % le%#ing thin)er in the fiel# of tr%#em%r)s for open source
comp%nies, .%m Cheste) Hre%# her interview hereI, %n# %m e-cite# to &e co'presenting with her %t the
conference. <e2ll &e t%l)ing %&out the uni9ue situ%tions, ch%llenges, %n# %ppro%ches for &oth &r%n#ing
%n# tr%#em%r) str%tegies for %nyone intereste# in the fiel#, whether currently wor)ing %t %n open source
comp%ny or not.
hen open source invests in diversity$ everyone
wins
6ynn Root: So't*are engineer at Spoti'y (originally published (ctober 2!"#
:essic% CcFell%r is %n entrepreneur, softw%re engineer, %n# open source #eveloper. (he helps org%ni?e
the 0oston .ython user group %n# pl%ys % &ig role in #iversity outre%ch &y intro#ucing %n# welcoming
more &eginners %n# women. .%rticip%tion h%s incre%se# from 0'2= to A= %n# the user group h%s
sust%ine# this over the p%st two ye%rs.
It2s results li)e this th%t convince :essic% th%t when open source communities invest in #iversity
outre%ch, everyone &enefits. (ince implementing % &eginner series, interme#i%te wor)shops, %n# open
source sprints, the 0oston .ython user group h%s over 9uintuple# in si?e, from L00 mem&ers to J000Y.
They %re now the l%rgest .ython user group in the worl#. Th%t type of growth is something %ll open
source communities shoul# %spire to.
"e%# more %&out :essic% CcFell%r in this interview.
How long have you been in the open source community# Did you have a
mentor when you started#
Cy first ever contri&ution to %n open source pro1ect w%s some #ocument%tion for the Twiste# pro1ect in
200; HTwiste# is %n event'#riven networ)ing engine written in .ythonI. I2ve &een involve# with the
pro1ect ever since, %m now % core contri&utor, %n# h%ve even h%# the ple%sure of writing % &oo) %&out
Twiste#.
I h%# % gre%t first e-perience contri&uting to Twiste#/ the community h%# #et%ile# new contri&utor
#ocument%tion %n# w%s supportive %n# p%tient %s I stum&le# through using the process %n# tools for the
first time. I woul#n2t s%y th%t I h%# % specific mentor, &ut I &enefite# from the collective support of the
Twiste# community %n# the p%tient fee#&%c) from the reviewers on my first tic)ets.
How have you seen open source software evolve since you -oin the
community#
There h%s &een % cle%r %n# won#erful progression tow%r#s em&r%cing #iversity %n# #iversity outre%ch,
%n# in p%rticul%r supporting &eginners of %ll &%c)groun#s. The incre%sing %#option of Co#es of
Con#uct &y technic%l conferences, the 3,OC8 Outre%ch .rogr%m for <omen, the .ython (oftw%re
>oun#%tion2s Outre%ch %n# 8#uc%tion progr%m, %n# .yCon2s Doung Co#ers events %re 1ust % few
e-%mples of gre%t wor) the open source community is #oing to m%)e itself % welcoming %n# supportive
environment.
9ou!re heavily involved with the Fython community, hy Fython# hat
was your initial e"perience with the language#
I first use# .ython in school HI w%s %t CIT right on the cusp of the core C( curriculum switching from
(cheme to .ythonI %n# h%ve use# it %t every 1o& I2ve h%#. It2s %lso my go'to l%ngu%ge for most si#e
pro1ects. 0esi#es &eing % l%ngu%ge I thin) is % 1oy to #evelop in, I invest in the .ython community
&ec%use of its commitment to fostering % supportive %n# welcoming environment for people of %ll
&%c)groun#s.
9ou and Asheesh +aroia had a great presentation during FyCon %&'%
about the 7oston Fython user group increasing its diversity, Can you
describe what you folks did#
>or the p%st 2 ye%rs, 0oston .ython h%s &een running % recurring pipeline of events focusing on
&ringing more women into the loc%l .ython community. The first step in this pipeline is % h%n#s'on
wee)en# wor)shop for first'time progr%mmers, which we2ve run eight times for over J00 women.
Our go%ls with this initi%tive %re to/
. 0ring more women into the loc%l progr%mming community, with % specific go%l of re%ching
A= women %t %ll 0oston .ython user group events.
2. (how the loc%l progr%mming community e-%mples of gre%t women progr%mmers.
!. 4evelop resources for other progr%mming user groups to run their own #iversity outre%ch
events.
.rior to running these wor)shops, % typic%l 0oston .ython user group event h%# 0'2= women. (ince
running these wor)shops, gener%l user group events h%ve met or e-cee#e# A= women. These %re l%rge
events &ringing in @0'20 people, so this represents % huge le%p &oth %s % percent%ge %n# in %&solute
terms for the num&er of women %tten#ing. 8ven more rem%r)%&le is th%t these results h%ve &een
sust%ine# for 2 ye%rsK
The gre%t secret of %ll of this outre%ch is th%t even though you %re focusing on % specific un#er'
represente# group, everyone &enefits. "unning these intro wor)shops force# us to le%rn how to truly
support &eginners. <e st%rte# running % monthly E.ro1ect ,ightE %s % follow'up to the intro wor)shops,
to give &eginning %n# interme#i%te le%rners more opportunities to le%rn %n# pr%ctice the l%ngu%ge with
in'person mentoring. <e2ve #evelope# curricul% %n# pr%ctice pro1ects th%t h%ve &een use# %ll over the
worl#. <e2ve run interme#i%te wor)shops %n# open source sprints. Through %ll of this, the user group
h%s over 9uintuple# in si?e, from L00 mem&ers to J000Y, m%)ing us the l%rgest .ython user group in
the worl#.
In % nutshell, when you invest in #iversity outre%ch, everyone wins.
Envy +abs developer Carlos 4ou2a talks about
Code 4chool and playing in a band
(g Maciel: Super5isor in >uality 0ngineering at Red Hat (originally published September 2!"#
I first he%r# of C%rlos EC%i)eE (ou?% %&out % ye%r %go while interviewing %nother #eveloper for my &i'
wee)ly po#c%st. Cy guest %n# I were #iscussing the things %n# people who inspire# him %n# helpe#
p%ve the w%y for his c%reer. C%rlos c%me up sever%l times #uring th%t convers%tion.
C%rlos (ou?% is % #eveloper for 8nvy +%&s, the comp%ny &ehin# "%ils for Rom&ies, Co#e (chool, %n#
Try"u&y.org.
I recently got %n opportunity to spe%) with him, %n# it #i#n2t t%)e long for me to un#erst%n# why he is
referre# &y others %s % source of inspir%tion. >or me, t%l)ing with C%rlos w%s the e9uiv%lent of ri#ing
the t%llest roller co%ster for the first timeK $e is genuinely #e#ic%te# to his c%reer %n# pro1ects, %n# his
p%ssion shows through when he t%l)s %&out his e-periences %n# future pl%ns. $is positive %ttitu#e %n#
enthusi%sm for everything, from co#ing &est pr%ctices to his (m%ll Acts C%nifesto to music, is
infectious. Chec) out his &logK
"e%# more in my interview with C%rlos (ou?% here.
hat does your day look like at Envy +abs#
I2m % #eveloper, %n# I #o % little &it of everything from wor)ing on new Co#e (chool courses to
wor)ing on 8nvy +%&s client pro1ects.
I2ve &een #eveloping we& %pplic%tions for m%ny ye%rs %n# %lmost e-clusively using the "%ils
fr%mewor) for the p%st J ye%rs. <e use "%ils for most of our client wor) %t 8nvy +%&s %n# %lso to &uil#
some of our pro#ucts, li)e Co#e (chool. At the All Things Open conference in "%leigh, I will &e
t%l)ing %&out some of the ch%nges in the recently rele%se# version J of "%ils %n# some tric)s %n# tips
we2ve &een using here %t 8nvy +%&s th%t help our "%ils #evelopers &e more efficient.
hen did you get involved with open source#
I got involve# with open source &%c) in my first ye%r in college, %roun# 200!, when I w%s 1ust getting
st%rte# with progr%mming. Cost of the &oo)s %n# references I2# come %cross were rel%te# to open
source technologies, li)e progr%mming l%ngu%ges, fr%mewor)s, %n# oper%ting systems. "e%#ing %&out
the philosophy &ehin# open source 1ust m%#e sense.
I remem&er re%#ing %rticles %&out *&untu written &y you, OgK I2m %lw%ys loo)ing for w%ys to
contri&ute &%c) to the community &y sh%ring co#e, writing %rticles, giving present%tions, %n# running
user groups. I2m gr%teful to &e % p%rt of this %m%?ing community.
I saw on your 3acebook page that you play bass in a rock band, Is it safe
to assume that music plays an important role in your careerBlife#
Cusic pl%ys % huge role in my life, %n# it2s %s &ig of % p%ssion of mine %s progr%mming. (eeing
someone listening to % song I2ve written is 1ust li)e seeing someone using %n %pp I2ve m%#e. I2ve %lw%ys
pl%ye# in &%n#s, &ut I nee# to up#%te my >%ce&oo) p%ge &ec%use I %ctu%lly left Heroes 1ill 8all %
couple months %go. <ith %ll of the tr%veling I2ve &een #oing for wor), I h%ven2t &een %&le to commit to
the &%n# %s much %s I2# li)e to. .l%ying live is % lot of wor), so I2ve #eci#e# to le%ve the &%n#. I still li)e
to pl%y music %t home when I get % ch%nce.
Envy +abs created Code 4chool, Can you tell us what it is and how it came
about#
Co#e (chool is %n online le%rning pl%tform. <e2ve cre%te# it with the go%l of %llowing people to le%rn
new technologies without going through the trou&le of setting up % loc%l environment. All of you h%ve
to #o is visit % we& p%ge, w%tch vi#eos, %n# go through co#e ch%llenges str%ight from your &rowser
win#ow.
<e currently offer courses on "u&y, "%ils, front'en# %n# &%c)en# :%v%(cript, #esign %n# front'en#
#evelopment, %n# iO(. <e cre%te everything ourselves, from content to vi#eo pro#uction. One new
course %t le%st is l%unche# every month.
How do the courses Code 4chool offer differ from something like
Coursera# hat are the advantages of using Code 4chool#
All Co#e (chool courses h%ve %n inter%ctive portion which %llows stu#ents to co#e from their &rowser,
no setup re9uire#. <e w%nt people to get % t%ste of wh%t2s li)e to wor) with the l%ngu%ge or fr%mewor)
we %re te%ching.
<e h%ve over J60,000 registere# users %n# we h%ve % lot of te%m %ccounts from #ifferent comp%nies
th%t use Co#e (chool to tr%in their st%ff. <e2ve wor)e# together with comp%nies li)e 3it$u& %n#
3oogle to #evelop courses for some of their technologies. >rom the 8nvy +%&s si#e, we2ve %lso wor)e#
with comp%nies, the most recent one &eing CI(CO, to #evelop their own custom le%rning pl%tforms.
hat can we e"pect from Code 4chool in the near future#
Dou c%n e-pect Co#e (chool to %lw%ys &e loo)ing for the most effective w%y to te%ch new technologies
%n# comple- topics.
)op G things Angie 7yron loves about Drupal
Jason Hibbets: Project Manager in Corporate Marketing at Red Hat (originally published (ctober
2!"#
Angie 0yron is %n %#voc%te for 4rup%l. Commonly )nown online %s *ebchick, she is % co'm%int%iner
of the popul%r we& #evelopment pl%tform 4rup%l, % free %n# open source content m%n%gement system.
Th%t me%ns she %lso h%s her finger on the pulse of the community, helping to m%n%ge over ,600
contri&utors from %ll over the worl#.
In this interview, Angie sh%res the top five things she loves %&out the 4rup%l community, how she got
st%rte# in open source, her p%ssion for getting more new&ies %n# women involve# in open source, %s
well %s her &est tips for community m%n%gement.
.lus, she2s spe%)ing %t the upcoming All Things Open conference in "%leigh, ,C %n# gives us % sne%)
preview to her )eynote %n# session t%l).
hat does it mean to be a Drupal core coHmaintainer#
As % co'm%int%iner, my 1o& is to perform fin%l review of propose# ch%nges to 4rup%l core from over
,600 contri&utors %roun# the worl#. I #o things li)e chec) p%tches over for utili?%tion of #evelopment
&est pr%ctices, ensure they h%ve sufficient %utom%te# tests %n# #ocument%tion %n# th%t co#ing st%n#%r#s
%re followe#, %n# loo) out for things li)e perform%nce %n# *S Huesr e-perienceI regressions. I %lso
ten# to we%r the Ec%t her#erE uniform in this roleB th%t is, fin# people who %re wor)ing on simil%r things
%n# encour%ge them to wor) together, help get contri&utors un'stuc) &y committing p%tches th%t
un&loc) their wor), helping to me#i%te conflicts, %n# so on.
hat are your top G favorite things about the Drupal community#
. I love the p%ssion of the 4rup%l community. >or e-%mple, %t contri&ution sprints every
4rup%lCon, we h%ve hun#re#s of people hu##le# %roun# t%&les with l%ptops %n# white&o%r#s,
t%l)ing e-cite#ly %n# gesturing furiously %&out the ne-t &ig improvement they2re wor)ing on.
2. I love the )nowle#ge'sh%ring th%t the 4rup%l community #oes. <e h%ve % very coll%&or%tive
n%ture. If you le%rn something cool, your first instinct is to go %n# tell 0 people %&out th%t cool
thing you 1ust le%rne#. <e try h%r# to re1ect E"T>CE culture, in f%vour of &ringing people
%long.
!. I love the inclusiveness of the 4rup%l community. <e go out of our w%y to ensure th%t
everyone, from % h%r#core #eveloper to % #esigner to someone who h%ppens to h%ve I8, h%s on'
r%mps to contri&ute to the pro1ect. At m%1or 4rup%l sprints, we %lw%ys ensure th%t there is
mentor'le# free tr%ining %v%il%&le for people new to 3it, how the issue 9ueue wor)s, wh%t %
p%tch is, etc.
J. I love the #iversity of the 4rup%l community. <e en1oy % 20= p%rticip%tion r%te of women, h%ve
over 600 loc%l user groups on every corner of the e%rth, etc. <e still h%ve % lot of wor) to #o,
&ut I2m prou# of wh%t we2ve %chieve# so f%r %n# the willingness most h%ve to m%)e the situ%tion
&etter.
A. I love the self'critic%lity of the 4rup%l community. <e %re not %fr%i# to t%)e % col#, honest loo)
%t things we2ve #one wrong in the p%st %n# #o even r%#ic%l ch%nges to fi- them.
9ou got started in open source as a student at the 6oogle 4ummer of
Code in %&&G, hat kickstarted your love for contributing to open source#
I le%rne# %&out the free softw%re movement through the h%c)er movement H%ll of the liter%ture I re%#
&%c) when I w%s % teen%ge reneg%#e s%i# to #ownlo%# something c%lle# E+inu-E /II, %n# I w%s utterly
%m%?e# &y the i#e% of sm%rt people from %ll over the worl# coll%&or%ting together to m%)e top'cl%ss
softw%re which is then given %w%y to %nyone with %n interest in using it or le%rning more %&out how it
wor)s. I felt this h%# profoun#, empowering implic%tions for e#uc%tion, %ctivism, %n# even 1ust glo&%l
hum%nism.
I procee#e# to #utifully follow v%rious >+O(( pro1ect m%iling lists, &ecome Eth%t girlE who2# %lw%ys
o&no-iously spe%) up in cl%ss th%t we shoul# &e le%rning .$. in %##ition to V0.,8T, repl%ce# cr%ppy
%n# insecure softw%re on my f%mily2s computer with open source %ltern%tives, %n# tin)er %roun# with
open source technologies, especi%lly +inu-.
Ironic%lly, though, #espite %ll of my enthusi%sm %roun# the i#e%ls em&o#ie# in free softw%re %n# open
source, it %ctu%lly too) me $% years to wor) up the gumption to %ctu%lly try my h%n# %t contri&uting to
% pro1ect myself. I h%# &uilt up this tot%l E8instein comple-E %roun# contri&uting to open source, th%t
you h%# to &e % genius to #o so. It w%sn2t until 3oogle (ummer of Co#e th%t I h%# %n i#e% I might &e
%&le to %ctu%lly p%rticip%te, r%ther th%n merely cheer from the si#elines.
<h%t got me into 4rup%l w%s % we&site c%lle# E(pre%# >irefo-E which w%s % gr%ssroots m%r)eting
pl%tform for the >irefo- we& &rowser. It %llowe# %nyone %roun# the worl# to uplo%# posters, gr%phics,
events, etc. in or#er to help get the wor# out. I2m someone who h%&itu%lly Eviews sourceE on %ny we&
p%ge I visit to fin# out wh%t2s going on un#er the hoo#, so 4rup%l stuc) out to me in the list of 3oogle
(ummer of Co#e mentoring org%ni?%tions.
An# within 4rup%l, I foun# % community th%t em&r%ce# my #esire to help %n# pointe# me to where to
&e most effective, helpe# me le%rn the things I #i#n2t )now, %n# through it I2ve met thous%n#s of some
of the sm%rtest, nicest, %n# funniest people I2# ever met6who together m%#e it possi&le for non'profits,
%rtists, %ctivism org%ni?%tions, governments, %n# more, to &uil# pl%tforms of coll%&or%tion for their
respective communities.
I w%s Ehoo)Ee#. /I HTh%t2s % 4rup%l 1o)e. /.I
hat!s going on lately at the Drupal 4park pro-ect#
(p%r) )ic)e# off initi%lly &%c) in C%y 202 %roun# the i#e% of #oing competitive %n%lysis H&oth with
propriet%ry %n# open source competitorsI %roun# where 4rup%l w%s we%)est. The resoun#ing %nswer
w%s Ethe content %uthoring e-perienceE %n# we2ve spent the p%st ye%r %n# % &it t%c)ling pro&lems li)e
<D(I<D3, in'pl%ce e#iting, content previews, mo&ile'frien#ly %#ministr%tion, %n# more %n#
proposing those ch%nges to 4rup%l @ core Hthe ne-t version of 4rup%lI. I2m prou# to s%y th%t 4rup%l @ is
now le%ps %n# &oun#s &eyon# 4rup%l L in terms of its #ef%ult %uthoring e-perience, %n# % gre%t #e%l of
th%t c%n &e %ttri&ute# to the (p%r) te%m2s efforts.
1anaging a community can seem like a mysterious$ comple" art, Do you
have any tips for community cat herding#
$ere %re % few things I2ve pic)e# up over the ye%rs/
Tre%t %ll people you encounter in your community with the %ttitu#e th%t they coul# one #%y
&ecome one of your st%r contri&utorsB t%)e the time to help mentor e%ch person you encounter,
even if their 9uestions m%y seem % &it n%ive %t first. >irst impressions m%tter % lot.
Often times, I fin# th%t frustr%tion is the result of lots of p%ssion for m%)ing something &etter,
&ut without )nowle#ge of how to %ctu%lly go %&out it. (o #on2t &e %fr%i# of h%ving #ifficult
convers%tions with tic)e#'off peopleB once they2re pointe# in the right #irection of the
issueGp%tchGpersonGetc. th%t c%n help them fi- their &eef, they often c%n &ecome e-tremely
pro#uctive mem&ers of the te%m.
8ncour%ge %n# v%lue all types of contri&ution in your community, not 1ust co#e. .l%ces li)e
#ocument%tion %n# MA H9u%lity %ssur%nceI %re often g%tew%ys to other pursuits.
hat are the ways you help get new people /especially women0 involved in
open source# hat do you think is most effective#
<hile I2m less person%lly involve# in this these #%ys, the 4rup%l community itself h%s % strong
mentorship culture, %n# h%s % few initi%tives to help &ring on new contri&utors/
Core mentoring hours6twice'wee)ly &loc)s of time set %si#e on I"C for %nyone who w%nts to
get involve# with core #evelopment to get one'on'one mentorship from high'profile core
#evelopers. They pre'vet % list of low'h%nging fruit issues %n# %re there to %nswer %ny 9uestion
from E<h%t is 3it7E to E<h%t2s the A.I function I nee# to #o S7E %n# so on.
&et /n5ol5ed *ith Core sprint6%t e%ch 4rup%lCon, there2s % huge room #e#ic%te# to
contri&utors new to 4rup%l core #evelopment th%t essenti%lly #oes core mentoring hours live.
There2s %lso % Community Tools <or)shop 1ust prior th%t gets people set up with % loc%l
#evelopment environment, 3it, I"C, %n# %ll of the other things nee#e# to &e pro#uctive.
4rupal 6adders6%n initi%tive to &re%) #own t%s)s such %s core #evelopment into short h%n#s'
on lessons th%t &uil# off of one %nother H%s steps of % l%##er #oI %n# p%c)%ge# %s % 4rup%l
#istri&ution so th%t people c%n wor) through the lessons together with others %t their loc%l user
groups. H>%ce'to'f%ce inter%ction is re%lly import%nt to m%ny new people.I
In terms of women, specific%lly, my e-perience is th%t most of wh%t you #o to m%)e your community
more welcoming %n# e%sy to contri&ute to for people in gener%l ten#s to improve the situ%tion for
women %n# other minorities %s well. $owever, there ten#s to still &e % l%rge %mount of EotheringE th%t
t%)es pl%ce with women %n# re9uires everyone to c%ll it out when they see it to r%ise %w%reness %roun#
the &eh%viour, e.g. E<oul# you s%y th%t to % &%l# #u#e7 ,o7 Then ple%se #on2t s%y it me 1ust &ec%use I
h%ppen to &e % l%#y.E /.
hat!s your favorite video game#
<hen I2m not g%lliv%nting %roun# the 4rup%l.org issue 9ueue trying to &ring %&out worl# pe%ce Hwhich
me%ns &%sic%lly when I2m on % pl%ne BII I h%ve &een pl%ying this ".3 series c%lle# 8tri%n O#yssey on
,inten#o !4(. It is % pretty st%n#%r# #ungeon cr%wler, &ut with the #ifficulty r%mpe# up to , %n# with
% c%rtogr%phy twist, where you %ctu%lly #r%w m%ps of #ungeons in the lower screen %s you e-plore
them. It tot%lly t%)es me &%c) to when I w%s % )i# %n# h%# !0 p%ges of gr%ph p%per strewn %ll over the
floor to get through <i?%r#ry or *ltim%. /I
hat are some books on your reading list#
<e 1ust %#opte# our &%&y girl e%rlier this ye%r, so most of my current re%#ing list is rel%te# to th%t. /4
<e h%ve #og'e%re# copies of <h%t to 8-pect the >irst De%r, The 0%&y 0oo), %n# sever%l 4r. (uess
&oo)s strewn %roun# our living room.
)ell us about what you plan to share with the audience at All )hings Open
conference in *aleigh this October /without giving too much away0,
I2m going to #emonstr%te the new fe%tures %n# function%lity in 4rup%l @ %n# get people e-cite# %&out
the le%ps %n# &oun#s the system2s m%#e in the p%st couple of ye%rs. I2m hoping th%t this c%n help entice
people who h%ve m%y&e ev%lu%te# %n# re1ecte# 4rup%l in the p%st to t%)e %nother loo). I2m %lso co'
presenting, %long with :essic% CcFell%r from .ython, % )eynote on women in open source with some
pr%ctic%l %#vice on how we c%n %ll help our pro1ects to &e more inclusive.
)he challenges and perks of bringing open source
to the enterprise
7endra Mack: Channel Partner Marketing at Red Hat (originally published (ctober 2!"#
(teven 3r%n#ch%mp h%s more th%n !0 ye%rs of e-perience in the softw%re in#ustry, serving in e-ecutive
roles %t four successful st%rt ups %n# %t Cicrosoft. These #%ys he5s the presi#ent %n# C8O of
Open+ogic, where he2s focuse# on the comp%ny5s mission of helping enterprises successfully %n#
s%fely &uil# %n# #eploy %pplic%tions &uilt using open source softw%re.
(teven will &e spe%)ing %t the upcoming All Things Open Conference in "%leigh, ,C, on the
ch%llenges of open source in the enterprise. In this interview, (teven t%l)s %&out wh%t his clients %re
surprise# to le%rn when they first come to Open+ogic, &ig m%r)et #rivers for open source solutions, %n#
more.
Open+ogic!s mission is to help enterprises use open source software,
hy should enterprises choose open source software over other
proprietary options for their I) applications#
The re%lity is th%t in to#%y2s worl#, enterprises h%ve mi-e# source #evelopment environments where
open source, propriet%ry offerings %n# intern%lly written co#e e-ist %long si#e e%ch other. Open source
h%s % tremen#ous p%ce of innov%tion. >or % l%rge num&er of comp%nies there %re no %v%il%&le
propriet%ry offerings %n# they %re f%ce# with % choice of writing the entire solution on their own or
choosing from the m%ny enterprise're%#y open source pro#ucts %v%il%&le.
hen clients come to Open+ogic seeking help identifying open source
software solutions$ what do you find they are most surprised to learn#
The consistent %nswer here is th%t they %re %lw%ys surprise# &y the %mount of open source th%t is foun#
in % sc%n of their comp%ny5s softw%re. <e h%ve #one thous%n#s %n# thous%n#s of sc%ns %n# in every
one of them the results show much more open source softw%re is &eing use# intern%lly th%n customers
were %w%re of.
hat types of software do your clients most commonly seek open source
software solutions for#
The &ig m%r)et #rivers to#%y %re clou# computing, the continue# tren# tow%r# mo&ile %pplic%tions, %n#
the emergence of &ig #%t%.
It was recently announced that Open+ogic has been acquired by *ogue
ave 4oftware, How will open source developers benefit from this
merger#
The %c9uisition will provi#e Open+ogic signific%ntly gre%ter resources. This shoul# provi#e %##ition%l
opportunities for Open+ogic to contri&ute &%c) to open source communities %n# open source
#evelopers. 8ight ye%rs %go we foun#e# the Open+ogic 8-pert Community HOSCI which p%ys open
source #evelopers for %ssist%nce %n# provi#es contri&utions to open source communities.
Can you give us a sneak preview as to what you will cover in your All
)hings Open talk#
The t%l) is c%lle# Challenges o' (pen Source in the 0nterprise %n# will cover &est pr%ctices %n#
e-%mples of l%rge comp%nies setting up their open source softw%re HO((I progr%ms %n# policies. Open
source softw%re h%s &ecome % )ey p%rt of %lmost every softw%re solution %t m%ny of the worl#2s l%rgest
comp%nies. An# yet m%ny org%ni?%tions using open source to &uil# these pro#ucts encounter ch%llenges
%s they %ttempt to form%li?e O(( policies %n# pl%ce O(( on % level pl%ying fiel# with propriet%ry
softw%re.
<e will #iscuss how l%rge comp%nies view cost s%vings %n# the ris)s of O(( in their org%ni?%tions %n#
e-plore the steps they t%)e to ensure O(( c%n not only survive &ut thrive in their org%ni?%tions.
How Opensource,com Fro-ect 1anager Dason
Hibbets takes open source beyond technology
Jen 1ike: Content editor and strategist 'or (pensource)com (originally published (ctober 2!"#
:%son $i&&ets we%rs m%ny h%ts. One is re#6he2s % pro1ect m%n%ger for the open source le%#er, "e#
$%t. An#, the rest %re for newly #efine# roles in open source6inclu#ing loc%l government open source
%#voc%te %n# contri&utor. 0ut, one of the &iggest w%ys th%t :%son t%)es open source &eyon# technology
is &y highlighting the w%ys using open source softw%re, h%r#w%re, %n# metho#ologies is ch%nging
&usiness, e#uc%tion, government, l%w, %n# m%ny more %re%s of our lives on Opensource.com.
$i&&ets le%#s the Opensource.com te%m, who wor) h%r# to sh%re stories from %roun# the worl# of
those people, communities, %n# comp%nies, who %re implementing open source. Those stories inclu#e
e-%mples from +inu- or %ny num&er of source pro1ects to h%r#w%re %n# #esign to open %ccess in
e#uc%tion, scientific rese%rch, %n# he%lthc%re. An#, in loc%l government open source h%s m%#e le%ps
%n# &oun#s in improving the lives of citi?ens %n# wor) of offici%ls.
:%son is p%ssion%te %&out them %ll. $e gets e-cite# when the open source w%y is %pplie# to new things.
An# he wor)s tirelessly to &ring open source to the m%sses. >in# out how he %pplies the principles of
open source in %ll %spects of his life in this interview.
)ell us how you got into open source,
I w%s first e-pose# to open source while %n un#ergr%#u%te %t ,C (t%te. I h%# multiple computer science
cl%sses #uring my engineering stu#ies r%nging from $TC+ to CYY th%t e-pose# me to #ifferent
progr%mming l%ngu%ges. The re%l #r%w w%s #uring % networ)ing cl%ss where our professor, 4r. Vou),
m%#e us inst%ll %n# configure +inu- servers with firew%ll HI.T%&lesI, shell %ccess H(($I, %n# other
typic%l system %#ministr%tive settings.
I first st%rte# to e-perience the open source w%y when I h%# %n internship %t "e# $%t #uring the
summer of 2000. I w%s the +*3 H+inu- *ser 3roupI m%ster for the summer, t%)ing over the progr%m
%n# welcoming +*3s from %ll over the worl# to the "e# $%t listing. At th%t point, open source &ec%me
p%rt of my 4,A. In 200!, I 1oine# "e# $%t full time %s % 3lo&%l (upport (ervices technic%l engineer.
9ou often comment that what motivates you every day is how open source
is changing the world, )ell us a little bit about the role open source plays
in,,,
!!!how you teach your son and daughter about the world
I #efinitely use the pl%y&oo) from the C%)er movement here. <hile my #%ughter is still very young,
my wife %n# I provi#e her with % v%riety le%rning toys th%t c%n help her #evelopment. (he w%s &orn
eight wee)s e%rly, &ut is #oing gre%t %n# h%s 1ust st%rte# to w%l).
>or my son, who is in the secon# gr%#e, I recently inst%lle# (cr%tch on my l%ptop %n# let him go %t it.
<ith 1ust % few pointers, I w%l)e# %w%y %n# c%me &%c) 20 minuets l%ter to e-plore his first computer
progr%m. Th%t w%s speci%l for me. $e %lso h%s % v%riety of +83Os which %llow him to &e cre%tive in
&uil#ing #ifferent things. There %re m%ny opportunities to &ring open source to the ne-t gener%tion.
!!!how you interact with your community and support local government
I #efinitely &ring my open source s)illset to my neigh&orhoo#. I2ve set'up %n# m%n%ge m%iling lists to
provi#e %n e%sy communic%tion pl%tform for my neigh&ors. <hen I w%s helping to est%&lish my
community w%tch progr%m, I w%s %#%m%nt %&out provi#ing meeting notes for tr%nsp%rency so th%t
those who coul# not %tten# h%# %n %venue to see wh%t w%s h%ppening in our community. An#,
provi#ing opportunities for coll%&or%tion is where I foun# the most s%tisf%ction. 8n%&ling my neigh&ors
to solve their own pro&lems %n# provi#ing % pl%tform Hem%il listI for coll%&or%tion is one of the &est
things th%t h%s m%#e our neigh&orhoo# stronger, especi%lly with to#%y2s neigh&orhoo# #yn%mics.
On the loc%l government si#e, I2m the co'ch%ir for CityC%mp ,C. CityC%mp is %n intern%tion%l
unconference series th%t %ims to &ring open source technology to loc%l municip%lities. <e h%ve % gre%t
te%m of volunteers th%t h%s pl%nne# %n# org%ni?e# % successful event for the l%st three ye%r. Cy
involvement with CityC%mp h%s le%# me to &e % Co#e for Americ% 0rig%#e c%pt%in in "%leigh. <ith
my other co'c%pt%ins, we %re using our p%ssion for open source %n# civic h%c)ing to improve our
community.
!!!how you create the roadmap or &pensource!com and lead the team
I li)e to thin) th%t my le%#ership style is to encour%ge %n environment of coll%&or%tion, i#e% gener%tion,
%n# %ccount%&ility. As we progress %n# evolve the Opensource.com pl%tform %n# community, I li)e to
listen to i#e%s from %ll st%)ehol#ers %n# community mem&ers. I %lso #r%w inspir%tion from 8ric "ies2
$he 6ean Startup. As we loo) to implement new i#e%s, I %m %lw%ys loo)ing for % w%y to me%sure
success so th%t we c%n improve on th%t i#e% or scr%p it %n# move on to the ne-t one. I h%ve % t%lente#
te%m %n# % truste# group of community mo#er%tors th%t inspire me with their #e#ic%tion %n# p%ssion.
hat!s the latest with your book$ The foundation for an open source city,
published earlier this year#
After % successful In#ie3ogo crow#fun#ing c%mp%ign e%rlier this ye%r, which pre'sol# 6A copies of
my &oo), things h%ve slowe# #own % &it. I2m ecst%tic to h%ve sol# %lmost A00 copies of the &oo) so f%r.
I2ve receive# inspiring fee#&%c) from re%#ers th%t the open government %n# open #%t% c%se stu#y from
"%leigh is helping others &ring open source i#eology to their city.
I recently m%#e my first commits to 3it$u& when I uplo%#e# the source co#e, m%nuscript, %n# some
#esign files for the &oo). The pro1ect w%s never %&out m%)ing money from the &oo) &y writing #own
my e-perience, &ut re%lly %&out sh%ring the lessons from "%leigh so th%t others coul# &uil# upon the
wor) we2ve #one.
It!s easy to think of government as being behind the times or slow$ but
today that seems to be changing, In what ways are you seeing local
government operating at the bleeding edge of innovation and technology#
<hile m%ny government entities still h%ve to move Es%felyE in the worl# of IT, there %re w%ys th%t %re
en%&ling government %gencies to #eploy solutions f%ster. Cy f%vorite e-%mple is (eeClic)>i-. <e h%ve
(eeClic)>i- in "%leigh, which I li)e to #escri&e %s % &ug tr%c)ing tool for city infr%structure. "esi#ents
c%n report non'emergency issues li)e gr%ffiti, tr%sh, missing signs, or potholes. The #on2t nee# to
memori?e phone num&ers or em%ils. The c%n use we& or mo&ile versions to report issues, %n# they %re
route# to the right #ep%rtment. The %pplic%tion em&r%ces open source pill%rs &ec%use it2s tr%nsp%rent,
%llows resi#ents to comment %n# vote on issues, %n# encour%ges p%rticip%tion. The comp%ny,
(eeClic)>i-, provi#es services to cities th%t %llow them to e%sily st%n#'up %n# m%n%ge the pl%tform.
hat advice would you have for those who want to bring open source to
their local government#
It t%)es wor). There is % lot of one'on'one time e-pl%ining open source, open government, %n# open
#%t% to electe# offici%ls %n# other st%)ehol#ers. Dou2ll nee# %n intern%l %#voc%te in the IT #ep%rtment.
$%ving th%t ev%ngelist is )ey to m%)ing progress. Dou2ll %lso nee# % CIO with %n open min#. If the CIO
is not willing to em&r%ce open source principles, I woul# not e-pect much progress. $%ving %n %ctive
citi?en group is %lso import%nt. They c%n &e the life&loo# %n# c%t%lysts of est%&lishing %n open source
culture in your city.
Opensource,com has e"perienced a great amount of growth and change
over the past few years, How do think this online publication has changed
minds$ altered the landscape$ and elevated open source#
(ince the inception of Opensource.com, we2ve seen tremen#ous growth. Through %n# through, I2ve
%lw%ys viewe# Opensource.com %s % pl%tform to sh%re how open source is ch%nging the worl#. The
community h%s grown %n# em&r%ce# this i#e%. I thin) the pu&lic%tion h%s provi#e# % gre%t v%lue to
those loo)ing for open source c%se stu#ies, resources, %n# e-%mples of how open source is % &etter w%y
to %ppro%ch life. In the future, I see more community contri&utions coming from %ll corners of the
glo&e. There %re so m%ny stories out there to sh%re.
The technic%l ro%#m%p inclu#es %n upgr%#e to 4rup%l L, while the community ro%#m%p inclu#es %n
evolution %n# e-p%nsion of our community mo#er%tor progr%m. <e %re %lso loo)ing to pro#uce more
e0oo)s, which %re collections of some of our &est %rticles un#er % common theme. I2# %lso li)e to
e-plore how we c%n re%ch new %u#iences th%t %ren2t f%mili%r with open source. <e nee# %ll mem&ers of
the open source community %#voc%ting for the open source w%y %n# to new %u#iences.
hat does having a big open source conference in your backyard
/*aleigh$ ;C0 mean to you#
$%ving %n open source conference li)e All Things Open come to "%leigh is % #re%m come true. I go to
% lot of open source conferences %ll over the *nite# (t%tes. 8%ch of them h%ve their own ch%rming
%ppe%l. $%ving %n open source conference of this c%li&er come to "%leigh is % huge #e%l. It2s % ch%nce
for the n%tions first open source city to sh%re our culture %n# host % worl#'cl%ss event.
I remem&er I w%s spe%)ing %t the (outh8%st +inu->est H(8+>I two ye%rs %go when the org%ni?ers from
.O((CO, were in my session. I h%# mentione# th%t "%leigh nee#e# %n open source conference. >%st
forw%r# to % few months %go, when I got % c%ll from the org%ni?ers %s)ing for recommen#%tions on
#%tes %n# loc%tions to host %n open source conference in "%leigh. ,e-t thing I )now, All Things Open
is % legit conference with %n %m%?ing spe%)er line'up.
hat will you discuss at the All )hings Open conference /without giving
too much away0#
I2ll &e highlighting the open source culture in "%leigh. <e h%ve %n %ctive civic gee) community %n# I2ll
sh%re some of the efforts we2ve &een wor)ing on in my t%l), (pen source all the cities. I2ll %lso cover
some of the policies from the City of "%leigh inclu#ing our Open 3overnment "esolution %n# our
soon'to'&e rele%se# open #%t% policy. I2ll %lso sh%re % few nuggets from my &oo), $he 'oundation 'or an
open source city so th%t those who %tten# c%n &ring these lessons &%c) to their community %n# &egin
implementing str%tegies to &ring open source metho#ologies to their municip%lity.
OpenDaylight 3oundation aims to shape the future
of 4oftware Defined ;etworking /4D;0
&inny Skalski: Social Media Strategist 'or (pensource)com (originally published (ctober 2!"#
8%rlier this ye%r, the +inu- >oun#%tion %nnounce# the foun#ing of the Open4%ylight .ro1ect, % new
open source fr%mewor) #esigne# to sh%pe the future of (oftw%re 4efine# ,etwor)ing H(4,I. The
pro1ect l%unche# with signific%nt in#ustry support %n# h%s the go%l of E% common %n# open (4,
pl%tform for #evelopers to utili?e, contri&ute to, %n# &uil# commerci%l pro#ucts %n# technologies.E
+inu- >oun#%tion 8-ecutive 4irector :im Remlin h%s s%i# th%t the Open4%ylight .ro1ect represents E%
r%re g%thering of le%#ers in the technology ecosystem who h%ve #eci#e# to com&ine efforts in %
common pl%tform in or#er to innov%te f%ster %n# &uil# &etter pro#ucts for their customers.E An# with
foun#ing mem&ers li)e 0roc%#e, Cisco, Citri-, 8ricsson, I0C, :uniper ,etwor)s, Cicrosoft, ,8C, "e#
$%t, %n# VC<%re %ll offering softw%re %n# engineering resources to help the pro1ect succee#, it5s e%sy
to see how the Open4%ylight .ro1ect h%s m%#e so much progress in such % short perio# of time. The
pro1ect is on tr%c) to #eliver its first co#e rele%se l%ter this ye%r.
(hortly %fter the pro1ect l%unche#, 4%vi# Ceyer w%s %ppointe# &y the Technic%l (teering Committee to
le%# their efforts. The steering committee is sche#ule# to elect % new ch%ir on Octo&er @ %t the pro1ect2s
si- month %nnivers%ry. In this interview, Ceyer t%l)s %&out how he got involve# in the pro1ect, the role
of in#ustry support, %n# the &enefits of m%)ing this %n open source pro1ect, s%ying/ E<e5# love to see
Open4%ylight #o for networ)ing wh%t +inu- h%s #one for the computing in#ustry.E
How did you get involved with the OpenDaylight pro-ect# hat is your
background#
I wor) %t 0roc%#e Communic%tions %s the chief technology officer %n# chief scientist. 0roc%#e is %
pl%tinum mem&er of Open4%ylight6 %n open source pro1ect th%t is #eveloping % common, open
(oftw%re 4efine# ,etwor)ing H(4,I fr%mewor) consisting of co#e %n# &lueprints.
I w%s electe# %s the ch%ir of the Open4%ylight .ro1ect Technic%l (teering Committee HT(CI to help
&uil# the #eveloper community %n# shepher# the co#e #evelopment process. I5ve wor)e# on
networ)ing for more th%n 20 ye%rsB I %m %ctive in the Internet 8ngineering T%s) >orce HI8T>I, ,orth
Americ%n ,etwor) Oper%tors5 3roup H,A,O3I %n# m%ny other in#ustry groups, so Open4%ylight is %
n%tur%l fit.
hat do you see as the ma-or benefits of making OpenDaylight an open
source pro-ect#
Open source %llows %nyone to contri&ute %n# &enefit reg%r#less of %ffili%tion. There will &e m%ny
permut%tions %n# uses of Open4%ylight th%t we c%n2t even im%gine yet6th%t5s the &e%uty of open
source. <e5# love to see Open4%ylight #o for networ)ing wh%t +inu- h%s #one for the computing
in#ustry. The ultim%te success will &e h%ving gre%t co#e th%t people c%n use for % wi#e v%riety of use
c%ses.
)he OpenDaylight Fro-ect is removing company boundaries and uniting
tech leaders for a common purpose, How important has this industry
support been for this pro-ect# here might you be without it#
<e were %&le to &oot up the pro1ect very 9uic)ly th%n)s to the support of mem&er comp%nies th%t
committe# fun#ing %n# resources tow%r# the pro1ect5s success. The Open4%ylight community h%s
grown immensely in the months following our l%unch with hun#re#s of #evelopers contri&uting co#e to
% #iverse set of pro1ects %n# use c%ses. <e h%ve % gre%t mi- of t%lente# people who %re p%ssion%te %&out
networ)ing %n# h%ve % #esire to cre%te %n open controller (4, co#e&%se th%t %nyone c%n use. This is
wh%t is most import%nt to Open4%ylight5s longevity. Our %im is to rele%se co#e in 4ecem&er 20!, %n#
we %re on % soli# p%th tow%r# %chieving th%t.
hat.s in store for %&':#
Our go%l is to #eliver %n in#ustry'le%#ing (4, pl%tform, %n# we %re tr%c)ing tow%r# our go%l of
rele%sing l%ter this ye%r. In >e&ru%ry 20J the pro1ect is hosting its first Open4%ylight (ummit in (%nt%
Cl%r%, %n# we will continue to hol# $%c)>ests for the #eveloper community.
hat advice would you give to someone -ust getting started in
OpenDaylight#
All of the wor) is #one in the open6we welcome 9uestions, input, %n# fee#&%c). Chec) out the
m%iling lists, the Open4%ylight wi)i %n#, our wee)ly c%lls. The ZOpen4%ylight I"C ch%nnel on
irc.freeno#e.net is %lso e-tremely helpful. It %llows the community to get to )now one %nother, provi#es
support %n# encour%ges coll%&or%tion. Also chec) out/
Open4%ylight <i)i
Open4%ylight +istservs for technic%l #iscussions
Open4%ylight $%c)>ests, (ummits %n# other events
Can you give us a slight sneak preview as to what you will cover in your
All )hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
I5ll &e intro#ucing the Open4%ylight .ro1ect inclu#ing go%ls, community, %n# recent #evelopment %s
well %s how it c%n wor) in %n enterprise environment.
A common, open (4, fr%mewor) c%n &e % use# within %ny networ) %rchitecture %n# en%&les users to
re#uce oper%tion%l comple-ity, e-ten# the life of their e-isting infr%structure h%r#w%re %n# en%&le new
services %n# c%p%&ilities only %v%il%&le with (4,.
I2ll &e curious to he%r wh%t other 9uestions or thoughts people h%ve %&out how they might integr%te
Open4%ylight into their environments %s well.
)he open source prescription for more consumerH
driven healthcare
7elly .ndre*s? &lobal Marketing Campaign Manager at Red Hat (originally published September
2!"#
:o%nne "oh#e is C8O of A-i%l 8-ch%nge, which cre%tes mo&ile tools to help p%tients overcome the
ch%llenges of living with chronic #ise%se. (he &elieves he%lthc%re must &ecome more consumer #riven
%n# tr%nsp%rent, %n# she #oesn5t &elieve th%t5s %t o##s with p%tient priv%cy.
.reviously, she serve# %s COO %n# 4irector of $e%lth IT (tr%tegy %t "e# $%t %n# CIO of *0(
Investment 0%n)ing IT.
In her t%l) %t the All Things Open conference in Octo&er she will e-p%n# on the insights she provi#es in
this interview, from the pl%ce where he%lthc%re %n# technology meet, to inclu#e why open source is the
%nswer for &etter he%lthc%re %n# how it #oes not compromise priv%cy %n# security.
)here are so many reasons why patients are nonHadherent to treatment
plans, How does your technology help overcome those comple"
behavioral barriers#
Dou2re right. There %re % lot of re%sons. .eople #o not h%ve either their con#itions or their me#ic%tions
e-pl%ine# to them sufficiently. It2s h%r# to fin# % truste# source of inform%tion. Chronic #ise%ses re9uire
multiple me#ic%tions. Other people nee# to &e %&le to un#erst%n# your me#ic%tions %n# help you,
#epen#ing on your illness %n# %ge.
A-i%l %##resses these issues through mo&ile tools th%t let you le%rn %&out your #ise%se with truste#
inform%tion from the C%yo Clinic %n# helps you tr%c) &oth your me#ic%tions %n# )ey wellness
in#ic%torsB not only to remin# you of when to t%)e them, &ut to help you see the progress of your
he%lth.
6iven the amount of change happening now in health care$ what are the
top three pieces of advice you.d give to someone starting off in the
healthcare information space#
. *n#erst%n# the comple- economics of the he%lthc%re system %n# wh%t is #riving ch%nge. 0e
cle%r %&out how your solution supports the ch%nging economics in he%lthc%re. 4on2t 1ust
e-tr%pol%te from wh%t pro&lem you w%nt to solve. (%les %re %lw%ys comple-, &ut p%rticul%rly so
in $e%lthc%re IT.
2. The &enefits come from simplifying comple- processes %n# inform%tion. +ess is more.
!. C%)e sure you %re pic)ing one sector of he%lthc%re %n# go for it. I see % lot of we&sites th%t s%y,
E>or hospit%lsB >or .rovi#ersB >or .%yersB >or .%tients.E ,o st%rt'up c%n serve %ll those m%sters.
.ic) % group th%t &enefits %n# go %fter it.
How would A"ial E"change be different if it was proprietary# hat are the
specific benefits that come from it being open source#
<e woul#n2t &e ne%rly %s useful to our customers, the hospit%ls, if we were propriet%ry. They woul#n2t
un#erst%n# how we sh%re inform%tion, how we interf%ce with their other systems, %n# who is &enefiting
from our softw%re. <e2# st%rt to loo) li)e the incum&ent ven#ors li)e 8.IC %n# Cerner, the (A.s %n#
Or%cles of the he%lthc%re in#ustry, who see) to loc) in the customers.
Can you give us a sneak preview as to what you will cover in your All
)hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
I2m going to le%ve the open source talk to my former colle%gues %t "e# $%t. Inste%#, I2m going to t%l)
%&out how he%lthc%re nee#s to &ecome more consumer #riven %n# tr%nsp%rent6%n# why th%t is not %t
o##s with priv%cy %n# security. >or %n in#ustry th%t m%)es up L= 34., the people who %re suppose#
to &e serve# &y our he%lthc%re system, th%t woul# &e us %n# our f%milies, h%ve h%# very little s%y in
their own c%re %n# wh%t h%ppens in the in#ustry. Th%t is ch%nging... %n# c%n2t h%ppen f%st enough.
1y4I+ community manager keeps watchful eye on
database industry
Robin Muil*ijk: +oard member, e- Publish Community Project +oard, .mbassador (pensource)com
(originally published September 2!"#
4%ve (to)es h%s worn % lot of h%ts in his c%reer, from networ) engineer to CTO %n# &eyon#. $e2s
someone e%ger to le%rn %n# who v%lues communic%tion, so he 1umpe# %t the ch%nce to &ecome %
community m%n%ger for Or%cle2s Cy(M+ pro1ect, % role he2s now hel# for ne%rly four ye%rs.
4%ve is one of the fe%ture# spe%)ers %t the upcoming All Things Open conference in "%leigh, ,C. <e
c%ught up with him to le%rn more %&out his &%c)groun#, his motiv%tion to wor) with open source, %n#
to get % sne%) preview of his present%tion in Octo&er.
)ell us a bit about yourself and your background,
I w%s origin%lly hire# &y Cy(M+ A0 %s % .$. .rogr%mmer in the Certific%tion 3roup %n# l%ter
&ec%me the Certific%tion C%n%ger not too long &efore (un Cicrosystems p%i# W &illion for the
comp%ny. De%rs l%ter, I got the opportunity to 1oin the Community Te%m. I2ve &een en1oying my current
position for %lmost four ye%rs. 0efore th%t I w%s % system progr%mmer, networ) engineer, we&m%ster,
progr%mmer, s%les engineer, group m%n%ger, CTO, %n# other simil%r titles for comp%nies r%nging
%lph%&etic%lly from the Americ%n $e%rt Associ%tion to Sero-.
9ou have a long history in open source, hat motivates you to work on a
pro-ect like 1y4I+#
4%t%&%ses %re const%ntly evolving which me%ns there %re %lw%ys new things to le%rn, new s)ills to
m%ster, %n# new hori?ons. <h%t m%)es Cy(M+ so speci%l is th%t it is u&i9uitous6everyone h%s some
Cy(M+ somewhere in their life even if it is em&e##e# in their networ) router, h%ving their cell phone
movements tr%c)e# &y Cy(M+ Cluster, their soci%l me#i% whims s%ve#, or %s the #%t% store &ehin# the
content m%n%gement system for their f%vorite ho&&y. An# with this #iversity comes new %ppro%ches
%n# i#e%s.
hat are the biggest challenges for you as community manager at this
moment#
4%t%&%ses #o not st%n# still, %n# &y th%t I me%n there is %lw%ys something new %ppe%ring. >or inst%nce,
the ,o(M+ interf%ces to Cy(M+ (erver %n# Cy(M+ Cluster &yp%ss the p%rser %n# optimi?er, which
t%)e % lot of the horsepower in performing % 9uery. (o you c%n see nine times &etter perform%nce &y
%ccessing the #%t% %s % )eyGv%lue p%ir &ut you c%n %lso h%ve users %ccessing the s%me #%t%, on the s%me
#is)s vi% (M+ %t the s%me time. (o your (M+ #%t% is %lso your ,o(M+ #%t%.
*nless you c%refully w%tch the #%t%&%se in#ustry, which most #evelopers #o not h%ve the time to #o,
you %ssume th%t the technology &ehin# the pro#uct is st%gn%nt6until % .$0 %s)s to implement
something li)e 0ig 4%t% or some m%r)eting >*4 from % competitor c%tches your eye. Our engineers
H%n# we A"8 hiringI strive to %## new fe%tures li)e ,o(M+ or % $%#oop A#%p%ter th%t wor)s li)e
Cy(M+ replic%tion. An# %t the s%me time, our engineers %re improving the core of Cy(M+, such %s the
optimi?er, %n# incre%sing perform%nce. Cy(M+ is c%p%&le of so much more with A.6, our current
rele%se, th%n wh%t we h%# with A.A, A., or J.K :u#ge us &y the 9u%lity of the pro#uct. An# ple%se try
our Cy(M+ A.L to help #evelop where the pro#uct nee#s to go.
hat advice do you have for other community managers looking to build
relationships and grow their communities#
8%ch community in the open source worl# is #r%m%tic%lly #ifferent, &ut you nee# to &e %&le to
communic%te to the customers %s well t%)e the customers concerns %n# 9uestions &%c) to m%n%gement.
Can you give us a slight sneak preview as to what you will cover in your
All )hings Open talk /without giving too much away0#
Cy present%tion will &e the ultim%te event of the century fille# with humor, p%thos, %n# will inspire %ll
who %re %tten#ing to gre%tness, %ll while stressing my humility.
About )his 4eries
The Open Voices e0oo) series highlights w%ys open source tools %n# open source v%lues c%n ch%nge
the worl#. "e%# more %t http/GGopensource.comGresourcesGe&oo)s.