Community is probably the smallest unit of collective humanity, and where many people can find their own sense of belonging, even if it is out of the administrative planning area, or is it a natural village, the online community after the birth of the Internet, beyond the geographical constraints, even the birth of open source software projects such great human miracle, then some people choose as their open source Community ownership and the meaning of life, people should not be surprised.
English Author: Florian Effenberger, translation: The Open Road
Participate in open source can produce not only produce better software, you can also have a rich life. ---- Florian Effenberger, author
introduction
Whenever I mention my hobby to my friends and relatives, and I would ask a lot of questions, although hobby has become part of my career, as the Open Document Foundation executive director is not embarrassing? We asked questions such as: the world community? Contributors from around the world? A Rource Community code? It can eat it?
Well, in fact, sometimes it really is possible to eat and speak truth, and today I want to share with you my personal open source community on what it means to me, and active participation in the open source not only interesting, but also benefit the entire life.
Early memories
Looking back on those days 20 years (2003 to 2004), I was a impromptu open-source software users, then broadband price cuts, it is so that ordinary people can consume played, which allows global interconnectedness become a reality. At the same time, a growing number of free software (not just in Linux) began to be installed into people's personal computers which, you know, before we have the open-source operating system for smart phones and the Internet of Things, we need to download their own open source e-mail client, browser and other software for everyday use. The reason for using free software at that time, I personally and for the vast majority of people are sensitive to the price of the same, only that free software does not need my pocket can be used. At the time, I noticed that the development of these applications is driven by people from the Community, but I do not understand exactly how it is, because I am another person is not a developer, so access to the source code is not I use open source ---- urgent reason I even started writing the code, whether it is software or personal, and can not gain any advantage.
Community members from the user to
Also at this time, I found the Open Office suite, which for me it is a very big temptation, of course I can not wait to install it to my own computer. Furthermore, I plan to focus on projects in addition, I also subscribe to the mailing list for the project, in fact, as white me, for what they discussed, is ambiguous, but because of curiosity I persevered, continuing We have been concerned about the dynamic development.
Unconsciously, time flies, blink of an eye is a summer has passed, fall to the party, the annual trade show season comes, I do not even know what they can do, they go blind Munich Trade Fair at the meeting, the OpenOffice.org help, in the case of trade fairs or the software itself are ignorant of the whole process I live in fear, fear and trepidation, but fortunately successfully completed, and even reached a very comprehensive record exhibition, it is very difficult for everyone is.
It was at this meeting, I met my colleague is now the junior partner, since then, we maintain a close working partnership was incurred under what he put me, he never gave me that I was not a "rookie" feeling. On the contrary, from the beginning, I was treated as a member of the community, feel respected, even feel that their views are also very important. Soon, I became responsible for doing something I had never done before, so I am quite surprised that it's all very interesting to me, so along the way, it also changed my life.
earn one's trust
Doing things in the open source Community, unlike those large, complex organizational structure of the agency is very different, I can almost start doing things I was interested immediately. I was able to work in a very relaxed and enjoyable way, which in turn let me feel very interesting.
Even now, in retrospect I had in my community to win the trust of course, is still moving slowly memories and I am honored to get to know a very good mentor and good friend John Maikeleishen (John McCreesh), positive It is the beginning of his unconditional trust in me, so that I get an opportunity to show, so I can make more contributions later. I am also very proud to say that John Maikeleishi together and create a project of the international market, even today, this sort of thing is very rare, although it looks very ordinary, but it is so ordinary can be able to Moving.
Years bucket turn, I come across more areas, in addition to the market, is also responsible for the content distribution network, jointly organized the conference, co-founded and is most likely to be the first dedicated to the open source community tailored German fund meeting.
Friends from around the world
Over the years, through active in open source circles, I was fortunate to know a lot of interesting people, not just coworkers and friends, real friends from around the world, we only really love their Community, another also shared many wonderful moments and private discussions.
Due to geographical reasons, the opportunity to meet real people in the Community is very small, but this does not affect our mutual trust in each other. Which I was most impressed: encountered a friend who came from Rio de Janeiro, around 2000 we met, I had to help him solve some problem Linux service until 2013, we really see above in the side, even during the entire meeting, we did not talk it, and even some of the language barrier, but that did not stop us become very good friends to this day, we still maintain regular contact.
Expand thinking
We have friends across the globe not only very cool, and can bring surprising insights for you to expand your horizons, help to improve their point of view. After a finish will participate investigate organized in Italy, we go together the way the Vatican, John once commented: free software can bring people endless charm.
Travel abroad to attend the meeting in my local colleagues helped me understand a lot of customs and cultures of other countries. I have seen contributors from extremely poor areas, they have a very unusual story, and even have seen in the case has a huge language barrier, still adhere to the study explored colleagues to participate, which often are additionally very moved, very admire their courage to seize the opportunities ahead.
I can often get in Community members who have experience and inspiration, open source projects are open to all, it is not going to distinguish between age, professional, and educational attainment. Clearly, the so-called culture, language and time barriers exist only in our minds ---- even if there is, it is clear that they also can be overcome. This is critical, especially in the times we live in such a complex.
To get to know people from other cultures and learn about their lives, which helps me a new way of thinking about the world. When I read the news to those who are subjected to violence and war in countries and regions, I would be very worried that involved members of our Community, and fear for their safety and life, that moment, I thought was a picture of fresh faces and familiar names, no longer anonymous suffering, it makes me live more real.
Philosophy of life
For me, open source does not mean only the license mode, or development model, it is still an open attitude of mutual respect, trust novice, the importance of the views of others, common goals, common ideals, etc., it is also directed to the open source data privacy, civil rights, freedom of knowledge open standards and so on. I would summarize it as this is a philosophy of life.
Many organizations and human society as an open source project full of discussions, opinions and differences, many times, you will meet a very powerful role, and even e-mail communication barriers have its own ills caused, however, can not be Community members were blocking the open, positive, optimistic attitude, which is hard to create a breathtaking popular and pleasant environment, in addition to the technical aspects, it also reveals the wonder and the human side of things.
real life
In experienced ups and downs since so many years, finally ushered in the dawn of open source, thanks to those who struggle for the realization of the ideal, and insisted they think the right thing spread. A decade ago, on such occasions trade fairs, we are like aliens look, such a situation does not exist today, open source has not only been recognized by the world in the development and licensing models, and open source has been deeply integrated into an integral part of the enterprise. I am even more pleased that more and more companies begin to understand the open source model, and to make a positive contribution to open source to do things in accordance with the principles of the Community, it has also become an integral part of the open source Community equality, one by one phenomenon shows that the open source model has matured, to be accepted by the world.
However, I use the term "community" more and more skeptical, because they have a small number of users seem platform of any company claims to have membership, even if they are more interested in marketing products than community service. Even so, I am still very happy to see such a scenario, these companies started to pay attention up at least the general public.
Open future
Although 15 years have been spent in the open source Community, for me, the sun rising every day, is a new day, a day full of challenges, full of joy. There are always new things to be able to discover, there are always more opportunities to try more challenging!
Everything I brought open source are full of curiosity and excitement, not just in the projects and code, but also users and decision-makers ideas and thinking, there are those things I can not currently expressed in words. We are all the beneficiaries, at least indirectly, which have benefited from the project itself to achieve success, as well as people who drive them behind the project.
I am convinced that the open source community will continue to drive me into the new areas will bring more interesting people for me. Able to participate in the last years to open source, I also feel very proud and very happy, especially the place in them: we respect each other, trust each other, have common ideals, and is committed to promoting the development of events.
About the Author
Florian Effenberger, claiming to be a proud uncle, love of music, a Bavarian optimistic person, free software enthusiast, has 14 years of industry experience, is one of the founders of the Open Document Foundation, the Foundation is well-known open document LibreOffice charity behind the project.
This paper by the author Florian Effenberger published in the Opensource.com: the What at The Open Source Community Community means to Me , open-source translation to share the road carefully. Based on the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 release under license. Welcome to reprint!
Address reprint: http://ocselected.org/posts/opensource_leader/what-open-source-community-means-me