Episode 37: An Open Source History Lesson & More with Patrick Masson

Sponsored By:
Panelists Pia Mancini | Eric Berry | Justin Dorfman | Richard
Littauer Guest Patrick Masson Open Source Initiative Show Notes In
this episode, we have Patrick Masson, who is the General Manager
and Board Director of OSI (Open Source Initiative). Patrick gives
some very interesting “nerd history” on Open Source Software. Did
you know that you can find Open Source Intelligence as a reference
to World War 2? Listen here to find out more interesting things
about OSI. [00:01:33] We start off with Patrick telling us about
his job with the OSI. [00:03:22] Patrick fills us in on the history
of OSI, how it started, how long it’s been going, and what are the
main things that he does. There is some very cool history revealed
here. [00:08:07] Patrick talks more about communities of
collaborative contributors and he touches again on the history of
OSI. The term “Openwashing” is explained. [00:21:00] Pia brings up
a topic to Patrick about lately, there has been some friction with
groups or other projects trying to use different Open Source
licenses in the name of creating better sustainability
opportunities for Open Source. He comments about it. [00:24:31]
Patrick answers a question about the idea of avoiding the business
model trap of sustainability. He talks about it and also has a
great quote. [00:28:36] Justin chimes in to say he always hears
that 98% of companies use Open Source Software. Where did that come
from, is it true, and who’s behind that? Patrick answers this.
[00:30:49] Eric brings up a study done by Black Duck Software with
the Northbridge survey done in 1915, to back up the number of
users. Patrick is on a “roll” with stats here. [00:36:51] Pia wants
to clarify with Patrick about a point he made about if the path to
the sustainability of these projects would be if companies are
hiring folks to work on these projects, projects that serve many
companies? Patrick explains. [00:38:38] Pia also wonders if the way
to join an Open Source project, in a way that is sustainable, is
just being hired by a company to work on a project and how is that
growing the diversity of our communities and opening the door for
more joiners instead of just a few that can be part of those
companies? Patrick answers. Spotlight [00:41:31] Justin’s spotlight
is Show HN. It has great information and it could change your life.
[00:42:01] Eric’s spotlight is a piece of hardware, Dell Precision
T7610. It is a screamer! [00:42:39] Pia’s spotlight is a project
called Open Mind, to help protect the user’s data privacy properly.
[00:43:15] Richard’s spotlight is D3, for graphing, and super fun.
[00:43:39] Patrick’s spotlight is FLOSS Desktops for Kids, a
program that takes decommissioned hardware and puts it in the hands
of underserved districts and the kids there. Quotes [00:24:42] “I
really think Open Source will take off once all the software
companies are gone.” [00:35:50] “We need to have more joiners of
projects than starters of projects. And so, again, there’s no real
reason to differentiate any of these.” Links Patrick Masson Twitter
(https://twitter.com/massonpj?lang=en) Open Source Initiative
(https://opensource.org/) Openwashing (https://openwashing.org/) US
Department of Defense Use of Open Source Software
(https://dodcio.defense.gov/Open-Source-Software-FAQ/) Show HN
(https://news.ycombinator.com/show) Dell Precision T7610
(https://i.dell.com/sites/csdocuments/Business_smb_merchandizing_Documents/en/us/Dell_Precision_T7610_Spec_Sheet.pdf)
Open Mind Project (http://www.openmindproject.com/) D3js
(https://d3js.org/) FLOSS Desktops for Kids
(https://opensource.com/article/17/9/floss-desktops-kids) Black
Duck Software Survey
(https://www.channelfutures.com/open-source/black-duck-survey-open-source-more-popular-than-ever-for-companies)
Credits Produced by Justin Dorfman at CodeFund Edited by Paul M.
Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Show
notes by DeAnn Bahr at Peachtree Sound
(https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Ad Sales by Eric Berry at
CodeFund Special Guest: Patrick Masson.