Berlin Buzzwords 2024

Come with me to discuss the driving wheels of open source projects.

Six out of ten open source enthusiasts I interacted with see the open source space as code-centric. When they often think about contributors in open source, they think of code whether it is fixing bugs, adding features or developing something new.

However, times are changing. Advocates like myself are championing the cause of no-code contributions in the open source community. The question that arises is “What happens when the focus shifts towards utilizing open source contributions as a gateway to employment?” Because adding new features and fixing bugs sound more glamorous and tick the green points on GitHub than documentation and providing support,

This talk aims to challenge the usual "code-centric" narrative around open source projects. That impact doesn't solely rest on lines of code but thrives within a diverse ecosystem of non-technical contributions. By shedding light on the often-undervalued roles like documentation, outreach, and community management, the talk not only challenges the narrow definition of "contribution" but also shares ways to recognize the invaluable efforts of no-code contributors.

In this talk, the insights and analysis shared are from Maryblessing's experience in the CHAOSS Project as the Tour Guide Initiative lead, member of the community managers team, member of the DEI working group and member of the CHAOSS Code of Conduct team. The CHAOSS Project perspective on no-code contributions and its proven approach to recognition.

Participants in this talk who are open source project founders will walk away with a new perspective on no-code contributions and insights on how to better recognise them. Also, participants in this talk who are contributors will find reassurance in understanding the importance of their work and the motivation to keep at the pace and be their best advocate.