Green dots don't matter, Contributing does.

[mozfest-bot]

[ UUID ] d4f6550e-7d89-4bb1-97f8-f0a20e609410

[ Session Name ] Green dots don't matter, Contributing does.
[ Primary Space ] Youth Zone
[ Secondary Space ] Openness

[ Submitter's Name ] Vipul Gupta
[ Submitter's Affiliated Organisation ] Sugar Labs (GSoC)
[ Submitter's GitHub ] @vipulgupta2048

What will happen in your session?

In today's life where things like Github profiles has become a criteria to judge someone's skills and talents, everyone is running towards contributing to Open-Source. Open Source didn't start out like that, and never was meant for that.

Green dots on your profile shouldn't matter to you, if you help people out in issues. How many contribution you have in a year doesn't matter, if you never knew what you were really contributing towards.

I didn't knew as well. I learnt in my years of giving back.
In this lession, I like to share my views, lessons and failures. For both new and old contributors let's come together and put forward a step towards a better opensource space for all.

What is the goal or outcome of your session?

My goal is for me to get better at contributing to organisations and projects. My goal is to work and help towards making people, the new generation better in contributing towards FOSS.

Thinking about personal gain in this space, always lead to disastrous consequences for organisations. I like to help people understand and remember that open-source is not about one guy. But an entire community from all parts of the world coming together to do something good, something no one person could do.

The goal is to be better on the world wide web as the youth that we are for the people with us and the people yet to come onboard.

If your session requires additional materials or electronic equipment, please outline your needs.

None, I can get a game in if people are reslly interested to help them open up. Networking is a very strong part of community and contributing. Most people don't realise it.

Time needed

less than 60 mins

[chadsansing]

Can you describe how you might help participants discover their own definitions and uses for openness and contribution? I wonder if newcomers to openness will be ready to understand your perspective without learning more about openness and contributing in general. Is there a contributing game that might be developed here? If so, how might it work to help teach the characteristics and benefits of openness and contributorship?

[vipulgupta2048]

@chadsansing Hi, thanks for responding. So I would answer pointwise.

• Great question that I would like to expand upon as to how newcomers will understand my perspective.
  I would like to add here, that I would be going over briefly on contributing in general of both in open-source and real life to communities. Newcomers to openness will be clearly new to open source. And that's the link I like to use for bonding with them, so they could understand my views on the matter.
• I am too young for making people believe that my perspective matters, and I am just starting out in open-source just like each one of them. That's what I like to build on, that's where I have the edge. Newcomers to openness should realize that green dots, in the beginning, might look good, but they never matter in the long run. Contributing is not mutual to personal benefit. Being a community first person does like Guido Van Rossum, Linus Torvalds.
• At last being open in their communities and contributing in open source the right way can help them cultivate their own definitions in a much more beneficial and positive way. I would just like to have a heart to heart with people my age and ask them to question themselves on why they contribute. I hope their answers will help them become better contributors at the end of the session.

[vipulgupta2048]

Right, the sole idea of the game (exercise) is for people to open up. Get chilled out. Relieve themselves. Be themselves. People in a community should be participating actively, to keep the morale up and get contributions from each and every person. And that happens when people speak, share their views, get them out for everyone to hear. This happens for the first time when a newcomer joins the community.

• People can stand at their places, introduce themselves. All of the other people greet him/her in a very open welcoming way. And trust me that's the first step towards openness. It really is. For as every newcomer to the community have fears of being laughed off the stage or looking like a fool if they ask a question. I would like these exercises to struck these barriers down. If we have a session that actually deals with openness in communities. Then it would be positive for everyone at Mozfest. I think this is a crucial first exercise that people should learn and practice both for newcomers and veterans. I mean, I like to be welcome at a community that I am joining. Wouldn't you ? ❤️

[chadsansing]

I like the idea of a welcoming opening and heart-to-heart conversation about contributing and motivations for it. Are there examples you might share, apart from Van Rossum and Torvalds, of leaders of technical or non-technical projects or communities who share more governance with contributors outside of the "benevolent dictator" model?

[vipulgupta2048]

Thanks, your words are very encouraging. I hope my answers were appropriate enough. I like any improvements or more points to cover in my talk.

• That's actually a great idea, Chad. Open-Source really goes on with the help of people only. We could have a slide or two about the unsung heroes of Open-source whose selfless and devoted contributions kinda keeps the world running and provided a platform for others to contribute, I will be happy to research a good list that could help people feel motivated, and contribute to the talk in a more positive manner so that newcomers could understand that people who have contributed a lot to open-source are still unknown as a whole but never forgotten. I would work on including examples from non-technical projects as well. And YES, outside of the benevolent dictator model. Totally agree 😄

Personally, I love this thing that Mozilla does - https://www.mozilla.org/credits/
This sums my talk perfectly, that for these people if green dots mattered if prizes, money, or benefits like these mattered then Mozilla won't be what it is today.

[vipulgupta2048]

I would be a little partial, but one of the most inspirational person. I find close to me is Walter Bender and James Cameron that contribute to the development of Sugar Labs (It's my GSoC, org.)

• Sugar Labs help make software for children from poor 3rd world countries that can run in XO laptops, a program under OLPC (One Laptop Per Child). They oversee development, maintenance and a lot more in Sugar Labs, ask someone around if they heard of the organization or the work they have been doing. Most of my friends couldn't. I feel proud that I can work in an org. like that with people so inspiring that actually work for good. That helps children learn. And that list could be something like that.

• Another, I code in Python. Everyone knows who created Python but who knows the guy that created the package, Requests. Which everyone might have used once in their life. Find it here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requests_(software)

I could people from all walks of life. Get the momentum going. Like it?

[chadsansing]

I appreciate all the continued engagement and explanation here, @vipulgupta2048.

[vipulgupta2048]

Back at you 🐣 @chadsansing
Hey, does this proposal look fine, anything I should add or if its appropriate in the category that it is in right now. Just asking.

[chadsansing]

@vipulgupta2048, the best thing to do is to check in here and respond to questions and comments as they come up.

[chadsansing]

@vipulgupta2048, would you please let us know if you would be able to attend MozFest without a stipend?

[vipulgupta2048]

Hi @chadsansing, I really couldn't. I wish my proposal won't be rejected on the basis of this. I really worked hard on it.

I checked very considerately from my side as well if I could travel to London from India. The flight tickets are way too expensive, and on addition the visa, accomodation and other expenses that I would be glad if it were included. I really can't, I am just a student with no income source. It would mean the world for me to attend Mozfest, this year and give this talk in front of the people gathered, and talk about a real issue that we see in our communities. But without a stipend it just ain't possible.

[chadsansing]

Thank you for the extra information, @vipulgupta2048 -