Good Governance Practices for Healthy Open Source Projects - Dawn Foster, VMware
Channel: The Linux Foundation
Date: 2021-10-08

Good Governance Practices for Healthy Open Source Projects - Dawn Foster, VMware

Too many open source project maintainers think that they don’t need governance ... until something goes terribly wrong that makes them realize that they should have done something much sooner. Undefined or inadequate governance for an open source project can result in a lack of transparency that causes confusion over how decisions are made, unrealistic expectations, and unresolved disagreements between participants. Even very small projects can benefit from having basic governance documentation that includes information about how decisions are made and who maintains the project. Governance doesn’t need to be elaborate or perfect at the start; it can evolve and adapt as a project grows. This talk will cover: * Why governance is important. * The role of mission, values / principles, and scope in setting expectations. * Defining roles, responsibilities, processes, and procedures within your governance model. * Contributor ladders as a way to help people move into leadership positions. * The governance pros and cons of keeping a project within your company vs. contributing it to a neutral foundation. The audience will get practical advice about creating fair and neutral governance structures and processes for your open source projects.