Container Talks | Open Source — for fun, for Profit
We had a special episode of Container Talks Knowledge Sharing meetup on Oct 5th, 2022 as it’s hacktoberfest season. We invited Siddesh Poyarekar to tell us more about open source and Hacktoberfest.
Siddesh has been an open-source contributor for nearly 15 years and has contributed to more than 80 projects. He is the project maintainer for the GNU project.
Open Source — For fun, for Profit
Siddesh starts off with what exactly is open source. It is a software development model where the entire development process and source code are done in public. Some development processes might not be open, but all the source code is always available for everyone to view, edit and improve. As open-source software is developed by many individuals, it is also free. Depending on the licenses, some aspects of the software can be monetized but the main features are usually free for use.
By free software, Siddhesh refers to the freedom of running the software as you like, where you like. He also refers to the freedom of going through the code and seeing how the software works at a low level and changing how the software works to suit your needs. You can also create distributions of the software. A popular example of this is Linux distributions.
After talking about what is open source, Siddesh mentions an important point as well, about what open source is not. Open source is not necessarily free. Companies can make money off of it using certain business models. Certain OSS licenses allow you to make a commercial version of open-source software. Individuals can also make money from it by having consultancy services. Open source is also not a charity. There is an entire economic ecosystem based around open-source software. Check out the recording to learn more about what open source is not.
Siddesh then goes on to explain reasons why you should contribute to open source. The biggest reason is to increase and improve your own skillset, by working on projects alongside other developers who have years of experience in the industry. It also helps you to earn money either directly or indirectly. When you contribute to open source, all your contributions are out in the public, so potential recruiters can see what you are capable of doing. Another important point is that you can make some great friends through your open-source contributions.
Siddesh then goes on to answer some of the most common questions asked by folks who are new to the open-source ecosystem. He also debunks some myths and fears that might prevent new folks from starting their journey into open source.
Container Talks, powered by Devtron Inc.; brings you a series of meetups regularly; it is for fellow DevOps practitioners, rookies, and anyone interested in upping their DevOps game! If you are interested in following up and participating in the meetup, please consider joining the meetup group here.
