What is the Apache Software Foundation, how it works and why we need it.

1. Open Source at scale:
the Apache Software
Foundation
Bertrand Delacrétaz
@bdelacretaz, grep.codeconsult.ch
Apache Software Foundation Member and Director.
Principal Scientist, CQ/AEM R&D group, Adobe Basel.
November 2013
slides revision 2013-11-16
Reading list: delicious.com/bdelacretaz/asfbasics
The
Apache
Software Foundation
http://www.apache.org/

2. disclaimer
Very 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 ;-)
The
Apache
Software Foundation
http://www.apache.org/

3. what
is the ASF?
The
Apache
Software Foundation
http://www.apache.org/

4. The
Apache
Software Foundation
http://www.apache.org/
501(c)(3) charity, volunteer organization
"we
Apache License 2.0(business-friendly)
b
uild
the
~200 projects, >3'000 committers,
Inte
rne
~400 members, 9 directors
t"
No technical roadmap at the Foundation
level (a.k.a "board, shut up!")
Yearly budget around $750k
No offices, (almost) no meetings
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 thehttp://apache.org charge.
public at no
sponsors:

5. how
does the ASF work?

6. in see
BasicPrinciples
50 yo
ye u
Create and release source code. ars
!
Open, sustainable, resilient.
Asynchronous open collaboration.
Build consensus, voting if needed.
New projects enter via Incubator.
Individuals, not companies.
The
Apach
Everybody has a voice, meritocracy.
Simple, low-key.
Commercial-friendly license,
no exceptions!
Community over Code!
ftware Foundat

7. The
Apache
Different cultures, timezones, mother tongues, ...
Recipe for failure?
are Foundation
www.apache.org/
smiley: dhester on morguefile.com / map: http://people.apache.org/map.html

8. open
everybody gets the same information
picture: taysm on morguefile.com

9. meritocratic
nobody knows you’re a dog
picture: xandert on morguefile.com

10. sustainable
conflict resolution rules
self-service archives
exposure promotes quality
picture: ostephy on morguefile.com

11. The
Apache
are Foundation
“centralized asynchronous open collaboration bus”
discussions,
decisions,
votes:
mailing lists
& archives
code: g
/ w w w . a p atasks:h e . code repository
c
o rshared/
issue tracker
smiley: dhester on morguefile.com

12. Roles
The
Apach
http://www.apache.org/foundation/how-it-works.html
Users
Use Apache software
tware Foundati
Contributors
Suggest concrete improvements
Don’t be shy!
p://www.apache.org
PMC vote
Committers
Have write access to source code
PMC vote
PMC members
Run our projects
“Project Management Committee”
And also:
ASF members
Officers
Board of (9) Directors

13. Success stories!
Apache Tomcat (TM)
And many others...

14. why
do we need the ASF?

15. A neutral place where
individuals create open source
software collaboratively, based
on well-honed operating
principles and best practices.
“the Switzerland of Open Source”

16. it’s about
feedback
pictures: taliesin, kevinrosseel xfoto on morguefile,
ed
e
t fs!
fas p
loo
ck
ba

17. The same can work inside your organization

18. Open source success stories!
from the ASF and others
Semi-chaotic, multicultural,
multi-timezone distributed teams
that are very successful.

19. obstacles
a.k.a "excuses"

20. it's our
own stuff
photo by allclasswork on morguefile.com

21. my code
is not finished
photo by beglib on morguefile.com

22. mistakes
in public...
photo by xenia on morguefile.com

23. obstacles
don't let them stop you

24. In summary...
This works!
You can join!
Try it at home!
BertrandDelacrétaz
November2013
Readinglist:
https://delicious.com/bdelacretaz/asfbasics