OSSDC 2012: Thinking Beyond the Code

Inclusive Communities for Government & Open Source Software. Presented by Deborah Bryant.

Transcript

1. Thinking Beyond the Code
   Inclusive Communities for Government
   & Open Source Software
   Deborah Bryant
   June 21, 2012
   Open Source Summit
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2. Government
   is a bit of a
   special case.
   art credit: Brian Mollenkopf
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3. Community,
   know thy ecosystem.
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4. World Wind Ecosystem
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5. The adaptation of the model for
   government is work in process.
   • The open source collaboration model is still
   primary based on the notion of scratching your
   own itch. (Think Apache and Linux)
   • Less work has been done on a models that include
   subject matter experts (who are not also writing
   the code themselves) esp. within government.
   • Government is awash in shareable technology
   more relevance to fulfilling its mission, than
   providing highly technical infrastructure.
   to
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6. Think past the code.
   • Solving the complexity of today’s
   problems requires the collaboration
   of people who may not naturally
   work together
   • In government, this includes turning
   disruptive technology and new
   models in to a sound, defensible
   strategy.
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7. Reference Models
   VisTa
   CONNECT
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8. Open Security Community
   Homeland Open Security Technology Program
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9. Military Open Source Working Group a community of
   civilian and military open source software and hardware
   developers as well as subject matter experts across the US.
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10. Challenges for Agencies
    • a propensity for finding it more interesting
    to give, than to receive
    • gov 2.0 bling shiny object distraction
    • rock star behavior
    • a love of technology and a dread of
    documentation (= process and policy in
    government)
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11. Predictions
    • Government will continue iterating until we
    get it right.
    • Continue to move the Community up the
    Stack
    • The most open initiatives will develop
    diverse ecosystems and vital communities.
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12. Why Not...
    • Join a community before trying to start one
    • Build a community that includes your
    practitioners.
    • Create a Community of Practice for
    personnel and others creating and refining
    agency policies for open source
    • NASA, VA, CFPB, DoD, HHS, DHS
    • Embrace technology, but love the benefits
    more.
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13. 2011 NASA Open Source
    Summit - KeyTake-Away
    is also good community advice.
    • Use a standard OSI approved license.
    • Allows for greater participation.
    • Bigger community.
    • More diverse ecosystem.
    • Plus Bonus Points for Sustainability.
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14. Thanks!
    contact info
    Deborah Bryant
    deborah@debbryant.com
    @debbryant
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15. Innovation Reference
    Models
    • MIL-OSS for openness and knowledge
    sharing
    • NASA world wind for setting the
    community free.
    • HHS Connect for lessons learned on
    moving a federal project to include the
    private industry.
    • VA Vista for moving a legacy project
    outside the agency
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