Reflections on Being Employed to Work in Open Source  🔗 **Source:** [Reflections on Being Employed to Work in Open Source](https://jonathanbossenger.com/reflections-on-being-employed-to-work-in-open-source/) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: > - #WordPress > - #OpenSource > - #Employment > Author: Jonathan Bossenger > Source: Jonathan Bossenger's Blog > Reference: [Link](https://jonathanbossenger.com/reflections-on-being-employed-to-work-in-open-source/) > date created: 2024-10-10 20:30 > > # Title: Reflections on Being Employed to Work in Open Source > <!-- deep-read:sections start --> ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#summary) - [📖 Main Content](#main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#notes) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#deib-assessment) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#hypotheses) - [📖 References](#references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#action-items) - [❓ Questions](#questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#future-research) - [💡 Implications](#implications) - [🎯 Conclusion](#conclusion) --- ## 📝 Summary: Jonathan Bossenger reflects on his experience working full-time in the open-source ecosystem, specifically within the WordPress community. He delves into the unique challenges and rewards of contributing to open source while being employed, exploring the nuances of balancing employment and community expectations. He also addresses the role of company-funded contributors and the future of sustainable models for open-source contributions. --- ## 📖 Main Content: ### 🗒️ Notes - **Challenges of Open-Source Employment**: - Balancing the needs of the company and the broader open-source community. - Navigating expectations from both sides. - **Sustainability of Open Source**: - The role of company-funded contributors. - Sustainable models for open-source work are still developing. - **Community Impact**: - Contributions to WordPress and other projects can greatly influence the open-source ecosystem. - Striking the balance between long-term contributions and employment. --- ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment: 1. **Visual Learners**: - **Present**: The blog lacks visual aids. - **Improve**: Adding diagrams or infographics to depict models of open-source funding would benefit visual learners. 2. **Aural Learners**: - **Present**: No auditory content. - **Improve**: Provide an audio version of the post or related podcasts. 3. **Verbal Learners**: - **Present**: The blog uses clear, descriptive language. - **Improve**: Add more examples and stories about personal experiences in open source. 4. **Physical Learners**: - **Present**: No interactivity. - **Improve**: Suggest actions or steps to contribute to open-source projects. 5. **Logical Learners**: - **Present**: The argument follows a logical structure, especially when discussing sustainability models. - **Improve**: Include data and comparisons of different open-source funding models. 6. **Social Learners**: - **Present**: Reflects on community engagement but doesn’t facilitate direct interaction. - **Improve**: Add links to forums or community discussions. 7. **Solitary Learners**: - **Present**: Ideal for self-reflection on working in open source. - **Improve**: Incorporate reflection prompts for readers to assess their own open-source contributions. --- ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment: - **Screen Reader Compatibility**: Uses plain text, so it is compatible with screen readers. - **Keyboard Navigation**: Fully navigable via keyboard. - **Contrast and Readability**: The blog uses a clean design, easy to read. - **Text Resizing**: The layout remains intact when text size is increased. --- ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment: - **Cultural Relevance**: Focuses primarily on the WordPress ecosystem but could include more diverse examples. - **Inclusive Language**: Uses gender-neutral and clear language throughout. - **Neurodiversity Support**: The content is well-structured but could benefit from shorter paragraphs to aid comprehension. - **Representation**: The blog would benefit from highlighting diverse voices in open-source contributions. --- ## 🧪 Hypotheses: - **Hypothesis 1**: Company-funded contributors can ensure the sustainability of open-source projects without compromising community goals. - **Hypothesis 2**: Clear guidelines for balancing corporate and community expectations would improve contributor retention in open source. --- ## 📖 References: - Jonathan Bossenger, "Reflections on Being Employed to Work in Open Source," Blog Post. [Link](https://jonathanbossenger.com/reflections-on-being-employed-to-work-in-open-source/) --- ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Balancing corporate goals with open-source community expectations can be tricky. Contributors must navigate the demands of their employer while also fulfilling the needs of the wider community.** - Paraphrase: Juggling the priorities of employers and the open-source community can be challenging. Employees need to manage both company requirements and the community's expectations. 2. **There’s a growing recognition of the need for sustainable models for funding open-source contributions, especially for contributors employed by private companies.** - Paraphrase: The demand for sustainable open-source funding models is increasing, particularly for contributors who are employed by companies. --- ## 📰 Newsletter: 📢 **Working in Open Source: Finding the Balance** Contributing to open-source projects while being employed full-time is both rewarding and challenging. Jonathan Bossenger shares his insights into navigating the fine line between corporate and community expectations. As we move towards more sustainable models, company-funded contributors are shaping the future of open source. Read more on Jonathan’s reflections on being employed in the WordPress community [here](https://jonathanbossenger.com/reflections-on-being-employed-to-work-in-open-source/). --- ## ✅ Action Items: - **Focus on Sustainable Funding**: Continue researching sustainable models for open-source funding. - **Company & Community Balance**: Investigate best practices for balancing corporate goals with community needs in open-source projects. - **Contributor Engagement**: Ensure that contributors employed by companies maintain a healthy relationship with the open-source community. --- ## ❓ Questions: - How can company-funded contributors avoid conflicts of interest between employer and community goals? - What long-term models for sustainable open-source contributions are most likely to succeed? --- ## 🔮 Future Research: - Investigate how other open-source communities manage corporate and community balance. - Explore successful sustainable funding models for contributors to projects like WordPress and Drupal. --- ## 💡 Implications: Sustainable funding models for open-source contributions will be critical in ensuring the future of projects like WordPress. Balancing company interests with community-driven initiatives could influence contributor satisfaction and retention. --- ## 🎯 Conclusion: Bossenger’s reflection sheds light on the complexities of being a paid contributor to open-source projects. As more companies fund open-source work, the need for sustainable models and clear guidelines will become crucial. <!-- deep-read:sections end --> 📄 **Full text:** ![[Full Document Contents/Articles/Reflections on Being Employed to Work in Open Source|Reflections on Being Employed to Work in Open Source, Jonathan Bossenger]] ## Highlights - what’s been worse has been the fear of talking about it publicly. The fear of how the folks I interact with in the community would perceive my choices. What they would think of me? How would it affect their choice to start or continue to contribute to WordPress? ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9wn0vzqek06k2ggptw29zk2)) - I don’t always agree with every decision the leaders in my division make, including my team lead, their lead, my division lead, all the way up to and including the CEO. But I do think we’re all aligned with the mission of making the web a better place, even if we don’t always go about it in the same ways. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9wn299g9n329z9xxbxt3zaf)) - I have enough drama in my own life to worry about. I’ve been involved in legal cases at companies I’ve worked for, was even expected to give testimony. It’s no fun, for anyone that’s involved. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9wn3946fz5z99kjdxmthhpw))