Open Source at scale:the Apache Software Foundation

Bertrand Delacrétaz@bdelacretaz, grep.codeconsult.ch

Apache So!ware Foundation Member and Director.Principal Scientist, CQ/AEM R&D group, Adobe Basel.

November 2013slides revision 2013-11-16

Reading list: delicious.com/bdelacretaz/as"asics TheApache

Software�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /

disclaimerVery often, the ASF does not have an official view

on things - we are a group of individuals with

varying opinions.

So, this is my own personal view.

(but in general I am fairly well informed about the ASF ;-)

TheApacheSoftware�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /

whatis the ASF?

TheApacheSoftware�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /

http://apache.org

501(c)(3) charity, volunteer organizationApache License 2.0(business-friendly)

No technical roadmap at the Foundation level (a.k.a "board, shut up!")

Yearly budget around $750k

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity..., including the creation and maintenance of "open source" software distributed by the Corporation to the public at no charge.

~200 projects, >3'000 commi!ers, ~400 members, 9 directors

No o"ces, (almost) no meetings

"we build the Internet"

sponsors:TheApacheSoftware�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /

howdoes the ASF work?

TheApacheSoftware�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /

Basic Principles

Individuals, not companies.Everybody has a voice, meritocracy.

Simple, low-key.

Create and release source code.Open, sustainable, resilient.

Community over Code!

Commercial-friendly license,no exceptions!

Asynchronous open collaboration.Build consensus, voting if needed.New projects enter via Incubator.

see youin 50 years!

TheApacheSoftware�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /

Different cultures, timezones, mother tongues, ... Recipe for failure?

smiley: dhester on morguefile.com / map: http://people.apache.org/map.html

picture: taysm on morguefile.com

openeverybody gets the same information

picture: xandert on morguefile.com

meritocraticnobody knows you’re a dog

sustainableconflict resolution rules

self-service archivesexposure promotes quality

picture: ostephy on morguefile.com

TheApacheSoftware�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /tasks:

issue trackercode: shared

code repository

discussions,decisions,

votes:mailing lists& archives

“centralized asynchronous open collaboration bus”

smiley: dhester on morguefile.com

TheApacheSoftware�Foundationh t t p : / / w w w . a p a c h e . o r g /

Roles

And also:ASF membersOfficersBoard of (9) Directors

PMC members Run our projects “Project Management Committee”

Contributors Suggest concrete improvements

PMC vote

Commi!ers Have write access to source code

PMC vote

http://www.apache.org/foundation/how-it-works.html

Don’t be shy!

Users Use Apache so!ware

Success stories!

And many others...Apache Tomcat (TM)

whydo we need the ASF?

A neutral place where

individuals create open source

software collaboratively, based

on well-honed operating

principles and best practices.

“the Switzerland of Open Source”

it’s aboutfeedbackpictures: taliesin, kevinrosseel xfoto on morguefile,

fast feedback

loops!

The same can work inside your organization

Open source success stories!from the ASF and others

Semi-chaotic, multicultural, multi-timezone distributed teams that are very successful.

obstaclesa.k.a "excuses"

photo by allclasswork on morguefile.com

it's ourown stuff

photo by beglib on morguefile.com

my codeis not finished

photo by xenia on morguefile.com

mistakesin public...

obstaclesdon't let them stop you

In summary...

Reading list:https://delicious.com/bdelacretaz/asfbasics

This works!

You can join!

Try it at home!

Bertrand DelacrétazNovember 2013