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ApacheCon EU 2016 State of the Feather

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Jim Jagielski
Jim Jagielski

The document reports on the growth of the Apache Foundation from November 2015 to November 2016, including a growth in project committees and projects under management. It discusses why the ASF continues to grow, noting that it is defined by the people who do the work on the projects rather than central governance. The ASF operates through consensus rather than having leaders, and works for the public good. It encourages contributions of resources like people rather than cash to support projects.

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State of the Feather
Growth (Nov 2015 – Nov 2016) • 10 new project committees • 175 committees • Managing 294 projects • 7 Retired
Incubator Growth (Nov 2015 – Nov 2016) • 30 new podlings (59 active ) • 4 retired • 7 graduated
Not a language monoculture…
Not a topic monoculture…
Why is the ASF still growing? • We are not defined by a temporary alliance of business leaders
 • We are defined by the people who do the work
Why is the ASF still growing? • It ultimately boils down to being a foundation that is not defined by some central governance • We are defined by the people who do the work, the people who • Define the code • Write the code • Test the code • Document the code • Evangelize the code • Use the code
No backroom deals (there is no backroom) • We are often approached with a proposal that goes something like this: • We would like to sponsor the Foundation • In return we would like you to make ____ happen • Often this is some loose consortium of partners • But that’s not how we work • Take it to the community • Technically superior to alternatives • More attractive to the broader community
No Leaders, we are all leaders • She who does the work leads the way • Anyone with a legitimate technical or community concern can force that concern to be addressed • We are consensus based, but we do not require unanimous consensus • If an objection gets reasonable traction in the community then it must be addressed • If no traction then let it drop
For the Public Good • Apache is a 501(c)(3) • “a public charity” (Wikipedia) • Most foundations are 501(c)(6) organization • “a business league” (Wikipedia)
Apache leads the way • The Apache Group created the HTTPd project • Tomcat became the go to implementation of key Java standards • Hadoop led the march into Big Data • Managing scale with Mesos and friends • Streaming analytics
Recognizing Merit: 
 Diversity in Contributions • All contributions must earn merit • Because a healthy community brings more contributions • It’s a virtuous circle
Invest Resources not Cash • The foundation is successful because it is defined by the people doing the work • Not by the people paying the money • If you want influence, if you want a project to improve then invest in people • We don’t want your money (fly away) • You want marketing – invest in marketing, we have a staff member ready to help coordinate • You want specific infrastructure – give us the people to manage it • You want better documentation – give us some technical authors
ASF is an enabler • Innovation through collaboration • Building of communities focusing on common problems • Differentiating in the marketplace • Collaborating in the ASF
apache.org/foundation/contributing.html
apache.org/foundation/sponsorship.html
ApacheCon EU 2016 State of the Feather
ApacheCon EU 2016 State of the Feather
ApacheCon EU 2016 State of the Feather
ApacheCon EU 2016 State of the Feather
Non-Cash Contributions • We need you and your team • Technical Documentation • Marketing • Design • Testing • Infrastructure • Consensus building/Mediation • Brand management • … if it helps the community we want it

More Related Content

ApacheCon EU 2016 State of the Feather

  • 1. State of the Feather
  • 2. Growth (Nov 2015 – Nov 2016) • 10 new project committees • 175 committees • Managing 294 projects • 7 Retired
  • 3. Incubator Growth (Nov 2015 – Nov 2016) • 30 new podlings (59 active ) • 4 retired • 7 graduated
  • 4. Not a language monoculture…
  • 5. Not a topic monoculture…
  • 6. Why is the ASF still growing? • We are not defined by a temporary alliance of business leaders
 • We are defined by the people who do the work
  • 7. Why is the ASF still growing? • It ultimately boils down to being a foundation that is not defined by some central governance • We are defined by the people who do the work, the people who • Define the code • Write the code • Test the code • Document the code • Evangelize the code • Use the code
  • 8. No backroom deals (there is no backroom) • We are often approached with a proposal that goes something like this: • We would like to sponsor the Foundation • In return we would like you to make ____ happen • Often this is some loose consortium of partners • But that’s not how we work • Take it to the community • Technically superior to alternatives • More attractive to the broader community
  • 9. No Leaders, we are all leaders • She who does the work leads the way • Anyone with a legitimate technical or community concern can force that concern to be addressed • We are consensus based, but we do not require unanimous consensus • If an objection gets reasonable traction in the community then it must be addressed • If no traction then let it drop
  • 10. For the Public Good • Apache is a 501(c)(3) • “a public charity” (Wikipedia) • Most foundations are 501(c)(6) organization • “a business league” (Wikipedia)
  • 11. Apache leads the way • The Apache Group created the HTTPd project • Tomcat became the go to implementation of key Java standards • Hadoop led the march into Big Data • Managing scale with Mesos and friends • Streaming analytics
  • 12. Recognizing Merit: 
 Diversity in Contributions • All contributions must earn merit • Because a healthy community brings more contributions • It’s a virtuous circle
  • 13. Invest Resources not Cash • The foundation is successful because it is defined by the people doing the work • Not by the people paying the money • If you want influence, if you want a project to improve then invest in people • We don’t want your money (fly away) • You want marketing – invest in marketing, we have a staff member ready to help coordinate • You want specific infrastructure – give us the people to manage it • You want better documentation – give us some technical authors
  • 14. ASF is an enabler • Innovation through collaboration • Building of communities focusing on common problems • Differentiating in the marketplace • Collaborating in the ASF
  • 21. Non-Cash Contributions • We need you and your team • Technical Documentation • Marketing • Design • Testing • Infrastructure • Consensus building/Mediation • Brand management • … if it helps the community we want it