The Linux Foundation Member Summit 2021

There is a talk many of us give when we talk about open source about the values of an open source software community. Invariably we talk about transparency, diversity, chopping wood and carrying water, and that open source is about people. When you have been a part of such a community of collaborators or worked with them long enough we know what those values look like and what they mean. We don't necessarily talk about those values in the context of culture, or if we do, we don't necessarily talk about the social challenges of culture. Software continues to impact more broadly in society, and new industries are [mistakenly] stepping into the idea of open source collaboration as a way to accelerate software development. Governments are making policy-level decisions about software and open source software with legislative effect. Non-profits are stepping up to meet the challenge in growth. This talk puts a framework in place to discuss culture in open source project communities. If we don't step back and understand that a list of values doesn't build culture, then put the processes in place to build healthy culture, we build a very shaky foundation for the future.