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Why can't we be friends: do corporations & FOSS really mix?

Why can't we be friends: do corporations & FOSS really mix?

Many folks in the Python community appreciate and contribute to Free and Open Source Software. But sometimes, your employer may not be on your side. We present the current problem space that both community members and companies have for using and supporting FOSS. We then walk you through arguments and solutions to help increase your company's engagement with the community.

Note: Presented both at ApacheCon 2016 and PyCon US 2016

Lynn Root

May 31, 2015
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Transcript

  1. Why Can’t We be Friends? Do Corporations & FOSS really

    mix? Noa Resare | @blippie Lynn Root | @roguelynn
  2. A shared-resource system where individual users acting independently and rationally

    according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting that resource. – Wikipedia “ ”
  3. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each

    pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all. – Garrett Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons (1968) ” “
  4. Tragedy of the Commons, continued ‣ What is self interest?

    ‣ Let’s not require altruism ‣ The cost of bugs
  5. Tragedy of the Commons, continued ‣ What is self interest?

    ‣ Let’s not require altruism ‣ The cost of bugs ‣ The cost of lack of usability
  6. What can I do about it? ‣ Connect with others

    ‣ What barriers are there? ‣ Become friends with legal
  7. What can I do about it? ‣ Connect with others

    ‣ What barriers are there? ‣ Become friends with legal ‣ Financial contributions
  8. What can I do about it? ‣ Connect with others

    ‣ What barriers are there? ‣ Become friends with legal ‣ Financial contributions ‣ Write blog posts and give presentations
  9. Make Thoughtful Contributions ‣ High quality maintenance trumps features ‣

    Consider the existing community members ‣ Think long-term
  10. Why use FOSS? ‣ Stand on the shoulders of giants

    ‣ Hawthorne Effect ‣ High quality software
  11. Why use FOSS? ‣ Stand on the shoulders of giants

    ‣ Hawthorne Effect ‣ High quality software ‣ Alumni Effect
  12. Examples to learn from: City of Munich We saw from

    the start that if you're only relying on one contributor to supply your operating system, your office system and your infrastructure, you're stuck with it. You have to do what your contributor tells you to… “
  13. Examples to learn from: City of Munich … If they

    say 'There's no longer support for your office version', you have to buy and implement a new one. You're no longer able to make those kinds of decisions by yourself. – Peter Hofmann, RM for LiMux Project ”