CHAOSScast

The CHAOSS Community podcast elevates conversations about metrics, analytics, and software for measuring open source community health.

About the show

This CHAOSS Community podcast features members who spent considerable time and effort to understand open source community health and how we can measure it through metrics, analytics, and software. We invite guests to this podcast to talk about how they use open source community health metrics and software in their own open source communities, companies, or foundations. This podcast fills the gap with open source community metric definitions and software on one side and their use on the other side.

CHAOSScast on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 99: Guest Episode - Re-licensing, forks, and community impact with Data in the Hallway

    12 December 2024  |  36 mins 41 secs

    We’re taking a break this week so we’re very pleased to share instead an episode from our friends over at Data in the Hallway, hosted by Ray Paik and co-hosted by Daniël van Eeden. Their podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of database technology, open source innovation, and the incredible stories shaping global tech communities.

    In this episode, Ray and Daniël sit down with Dawn Foster, Director of Data Science at the CHAOSS Project, to explore the re-licensing of major open source projects—a significant trend over the past decade. Together, they unpack the ripple effects this has on community health, share advice for developers navigating Contributor License Agreements, and examine the financial and business implications of re-licensing. They also reflect on whether this trend is likely to continue in the years ahead.

    Throughout the episode, they reference some excellent resources, including case-study data from CHAOSS, guides on open source organizational dynamics, and financial analyses that add depth to the discussion. Links to these resources are in the show notes if you want to explore further.

    If you enjoy this conversation, be sure to check out more episodes of Data in the Hallway, You can find them on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

    Now, let’s dive into this fascinating discussion with Dawn Foster. I hope you enjoy it!

  • Episode 98: Community building - the role of culture in OSS project health

    28 November 2024  |  48 mins 40 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Harmony Elendu is joined by community experts Elizabeth Barron, Ibi (Fibi) Fiberesima, and Ana Jimenez to explore the vital role community culture plays in shaping the experience and productivity of contributors in open-source projects. They dive into the nuances of community management, from setting welcoming and inclusive cultures to recognizing diverse contributions that extend beyond code, and share their insights on building engaged communities, empowering contributors, and using feedback and data to measure community health and success. Press download now to hear more!

  • Episode 97: Practitioner Guides: #4 Security

    14 November 2024  |  31 mins 25 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, Harmony Elendu hosts a discussion with Emily Fox from Red Hat and Dawn Foster, the Director of Data Science at CHAOSS. Today, they explore the new Security Practitioner Guide created to help maintainers, who may lack deep security backgrounds, get started with essential security practices. Emily and Dawn highlight actionable steps, key trends, and simplifications to adopt in maintaining a secure project. They also touch on challenges like vulnerability reporting and the importance of consistent monitoring and updating. Additionally, the guide's flexibility, allowing customization and improvement over time, and the significance of community support are emphasized. Press download now to hear more!

  • Episode 96: What's new with GrimoireLab, the open-source community analytics platform

    31 October 2024  |  33 mins 58 secs

    In this episode, host Georg Link is joined by guests Courtney Robertson and Santiago (Santi) Dueñas to discuss the latest updates and future directions of GrimoireLab, an open-source tool designed to analyze community health metrics. They dive into how GrimoireLab originated, its current usage, and how organizations like WordPress and Bitergia are utilizing it for community contribution tracking. They explore the challenges of scaling the tool and the needs for further automation and data source integration. Courtney shares insights on how WordPress uses GrimoireLab to track contributors, improve sustainability, and automate reporting, while Santi explains the technical evolution of GrimoireLab, including moving to OpenSearch and improving database performance. Hit download now to hear more!

  • Episode 95: Planning an Open Source event or project with DEI badging

    17 October 2024  |  29 mins 30 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Harmony Elendu and guests Ruth Ikegah, Enock Kasaadha, and Adeyinka Oresanya discuss the DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Badging Project and its impact on promoting inclusivity in open-source communities. They explore the history of the project, the differences between project and event badging, and the importance of DEI badges in signaling a commitment to diversity. The episode provides insights on how to apply for badges and highlights the role of both automation and human reviewers in the process. Listeners are encouraged to learn more about improving diversity in their own projects and events. Press download now!

  • Episode 94: 20min in CHAOSS Africa with Precious, Gloria, and Maryblessing

    3 October 2024  |  30 mins 30 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Harmony Elendu is joined by members of the CHAOSS Africa community, Precious Abubakar, Gloria Johnson, and Maryblessing Okolie. Join us as they share their personal journeys and experiences contributing to the open-source ecosystem. They also discuss their roles in various CHAOSS projects, including the DEI Badging project, documentation efforts, and the Contributor Covenant. The episode highlights the importance of community support, the challenges and successes in open-source contributions, and suggestions for improving the onboarding process for newcomers. Press download now to hear more!

  • Episode 93: Guest Episode - Sustain meets CHAOSScast to talk about Practitioner Guides

    19 September 2024  |  40 mins 12 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, it’s a crossover with Sustain, host Richard Littauer is joined by three guests, Dawn Foster, Elizabeth Barron, and Luis Cañas Diaz, to discuss the CHAOSS Project's recent development of Practitioner Guides. The show delves into the purpose of these guides, which are designed to help open source projects interpret and utilize metrics to improve community health and sustainability. The guests explain the significance of metrics in open source projects, the challenges of defining and making them accessible, and how the guides can benefit different types of projects, from large corporations to individual developers. Topics covered include the background and format of the guides, specifics on the metrics discussed, and the practical applications and improvements these guides aim to facilitate. Go ahead and download this episode now!

  • Episode 92: ISO Standards for Open Source Community Health Metrics

    5 September 2024  |  28 mins 41 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Alice Sowerby is joined by Sean Goggins, Georg Link, and guest Divya Mohan, to discuss the importance and process of establishing ISO standards for open source community health metrics. The panel delves into how ISO standards ensure interoperability and aid in establishing credible industry practices. They highlight existing ISO standards in open source and share how these efforts are being translated into the CHAOSS Project's metrics, particularly focusing on security and community activity. The conversation includes insights on the current state of the project, the feedback process, and how interested individuals can get involved. Press download to hear more!

  • Episode 91: Red Hat OSPO: Contextual Community Analytics and the AI Hype Cycle

    22 August 2024  |  37 mins 38 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Matt Germonprez is joined by Red Hat's Senior Data Scientist Cali Dolfi and Community Architect Josh Berkus to discuss their experiences in measuring and maintaining open source community health. They delve into their day-to-day roles, challenges, and key projects like Project Aspen, the importance of contextual metrics, and the impact of generative AI on their work. Also, they emphasize the importance of goal-oriented metrics and establishing repeatable processes in OSPOs. Press download to hear much more!

  • Episode 90: 20min in CHAOSS Africa with Victoria and Kingsley

    8 August 2024  |  20 mins 15 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Harmony Elendu welcomes guests Kingsley Mkpandiok and Victoria Ottah from CHAOSS Africa. They share their unique encounters with open source, from reading articles and attending events to making their first contributions. They discuss the importance of community engagement, the valuable skills they've developed, and the significance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in their work. The episode highlights how volunteering and active participation in open source not only benefits the community but also enhances personal growth and networking opportunities. Press download now to hear more!

  • Episode 89: Practitioner Guides: #3 Organizational Participation

    25 July 2024  |  32 mins 25 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSSCast, host Alice Sowerby is joined by panelists Dawn Foster, Elizabeth Barron, and Harmony Elendu, to discuss the importance and complexities of organizational participation in open source projects. They delve into how the CHAOSS Practitioner Guides help users make sense of CHAOSS metrics and provide insights on improving open source project health. The conversation covers the significance of diverse organizational participation, the role of community managers, and the challenges of accurately measuring organizational contributions. Additionally, they highlight tools like Augur and Grimoire Lab that aid in data collection and analysis as well as offer practical advice for both individuals and companies to foster healthier, more inclusive open source communities. Press download now to hear more!

  • Episode 88: Practitioner Guides: #2 Contributor Sustainability

    11 July 2024  |  33 mins 23 secs

    In this episode of CHAOSSScast, host Alice Sowerby, along with Dawn Foster and Elizabeth Barron, discuss measuring and improving open source community health through contributor sustainability. The conversation highlights the importance of documentation, the balance of contributor roles, and proactive community building. They share insights and examples on how projects can avoid single points of failure, the significance of onboarding processes, and the impact of asking for help. The discussion also underscores the human aspects of open source contributions and provides practical strategies for long-term project viability. Press download now to hear more!