Sep 20 – 24, 2021
US/Pacific timezone

Understanding motivations, goals and challenges faced by the Linux Kernel contributors

Sep 21, 2021, 7:00 AM
45m
Refereed Track/Virtual-Room (LPC Virtual)

Refereed Track/Virtual-Room

LPC Virtual

150
LPC Refereed Track (Closed) LPC Refereed Track

Speaker

Bianca Trinkenreich (Northern Arizona University)

Description

Motivation to contribute and barriers faced by newcomers and contributors to join and stay in Open Source Software projects have been intriguing researchers since the early 2000s. The literature on motivation was updated on recent work and showed that for more than 55% of contributors who answered the questionnaire, the motivation shifted after joining. Those contributors joined OSS for one reason and continued for another reason. The world is dynamic, and so are we. If the reasons to participate can change from past to present, what about the future? Linux Kernel wants to keep contributors around by understanding what they seek for their future, ultimately influencing communities' sustainability.
We will present results from a survey with Linux Kernel contributors that was created to understand why people participate in Linux Kernel projects, their goals for the future, and what would make them leave or continue contributing. The survey is part of a Diversity & Inclusion initiative to attract and retain a diverse set of contributors in Linux Kernel.

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Primary author

Bianca Trinkenreich (Northern Arizona University)

Presentation materials

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