Episode 242: Ben Cotton on Program Management for Open Source Projects

Guest Ben Cotton Panelist Leslie Hawthorne Show Notes In this
episode of Sustain, host Leslie Hawthorn is joined by guest, Ben
Cotton, the Open Source Community Lead at Kusari and former Fedora
Program Manager. Ben discusses his career path, the importance of
intentional program management in open source projects, and shares
insights from his book, 'Program Management for Open Source
Projects.' The conversation covers the evolution of engagement in
open source communities, the impact of professionalization, and the
challenges posed by AI in maintaining open source inclusivity. They
also touch on the current trends of corporate involvement in open
source. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:38] Ben mentions
that he wrote his book to see his name on a cover but also explains
the practical reasons for writing it, aiming to assist with the
program management of open source projects. [00:04:42] Leslie
mentions Karl Fogel’s book and discusses how engagement with open
source often starts with a technical interest but deepens due to
human interactions within the community. [00:05:28] Ben shares his
background in synpotic meteorology and how an unexpected
opportunity led him to maintain software for weather data
visualization, which paved his way into system administration and
eventually open source. [00:10:43] Leslie and Ben discuss the
evolution of participation in open source projects, noting changes
in the community’s structure, barriers to entry for newcomers, and
the importance of fostering a respectful and inclusive environment
for all contributors. [00:13:43] Leslie discusses the trend towards
older participants in open source projects and attributes it to the
professionalization of these projects and she expresses concerns
about how the focus on AI development might limit open engagement
in open source projects. [00:16:46] Ben remarks on the ease of
using modern technology like Linux systems, contrasting it with
earlier experiences that required more user involvement and
customization. Leslie shares the potential benefits of AI,
envisioning a future where technology adapts to individual needs,
like assisting her visually impaired daughter. [00:23:07] Ben
reflects on generational differences in technology use and stresses
the importance of understanding the impact of our technological
choices on future generations, especially concerning environmental
sustainability. [00:27:24] Leslie brings up a question from Richard
who was interested in hearing Ben’s view on program management in
open source projects, and how it differs from the role of a
developer who manages projects. Ben explains that roles in open
source differ from corporate roles as individuals often wear
multiple hats, switching between developer, designer, and
documenter tasks. [00:30:15] Leslie reflects on the challenges of
task switching and the potential for burnout among open source
maintainers, particularly those without corporate support. Ben
suggests that open source maintainers allow newcomers to handle
low-risk tasks to prevent burnout and maintain engagement.
[00:34:21] Leslie shares the grief she hears from friends about the
typical career progression for developers into management roles,
which may not align with their passions, emphasizing the importance
of finding fulfillment in one's tasks. [00:35:24] Ben discusses the
challenging corporate attitudes towards open source as economic
conditions shift. Leslie expresses dissatisfaction with how
corporations have historically invested in open source communities,
suggesting that even when funding was plentiful, investment was
inadequate. Spotlight [00:40:56] Ben’s spotlight is WeeWX.
[00:42:44] Leslie’s spotlight is the great city of Berlin, Germany.
Links SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/) podcast@sustainoss.org
(email) (mailto:podcast@sustainoss.org) richard@theuserismymom.com
(email) (mailto:richard@theuserismymom.com) SustainOSS Discourse
(https://discourse.sustainoss.org/) SustainOSS Mastodon
(https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss) Open
Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute)
(https://opencollective.com/sustainoss) Richard Littauer Socials
(https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials) Leslie Hawthorn
X/Twitter (https://x.com/lhawthorn?lang=en) Leslie Hawthorn
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehawthorn/) Ben Cotton
Mastodon (https://hachyderm.io/@funnelfiasco) Ben Cotton Website
(https://funnelfiasco.com/) Ben Cotton LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcotton/) Kusari
(https://www.kusari.dev/) Program Management for Open Source
Projects by Ben Cotton
(https://pragprog.com/titles/bcosp/program-management-for-open-source-projects/)
Producing Open Source Software by Karl Fogel
(https://producingoss.com/) WeeWX (https://weewx.com/) Berlin
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin) Credits Produced by Richard
Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/) Edited by Paul M. Bahr at
Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Show notes by
DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Special Guest: Ben Cotton.