This document discusses using blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies to improve governance for open source software projects. It provides background on open source governance models like benevolent dictatorship. It then discusses issues with Bitcoin governance and how other cryptocurrencies are addressing this. The document proposes that blockchain could be used to incentivize contributions and fund development for open source projects through mining or minting of tokens tied to project usage and participation. Several use cases are described like voting, funding, and providing incentives. Considerations for implementing such a system like the currency model and ensuring inclusion of all participants are also discussed.

1. BLOCKCHAIN & CRYPTOCURRENCY
for Free and Open Source Project Governance
A look at Value Based Consensus Networks in the Management of Open Source Projects
November 12, 2016
Seattle GNU/Linux Conference 2016
Joe Roets – j03
joe@dragonchain.org
dragonchain.org

2. Agenda
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Background
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Context
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Status Quo
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Cryptocurrency Governance
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Governance of Non-Currency Projects
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Use Cases
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Questions

3. Bio
25 Years Software Development, Design, Architecture

4. Historical Context
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Open Source / Free Software Movement
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Stallman – GNU
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Torvalds – Linux
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Success
– Flexibility
– Security
– Adoption
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Linux and Apache market share
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Android market share

5. Benevolent Dictatorship

6. Bitcoin
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Governance and Control
– Anonymous Founder
– Central team of Developers (philosophical inconsistency)
– Leadership crises
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Actors
– Developers – Control the code
– Miners – Unexploited power
– Full Nodes – Facilitate the network
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Disconnect Between Actors
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Begging for system to reward actors with input

7. Cryptocurrency
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Software that defines its own
network and algorithm for creation
of token/currency/value
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Ideally should control
– Changes to software
– Protocol
– Rewards

8. Addressing Governance
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Tezos
– Market / Consensus for protocol changes
– Upgrades
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Dash
– Project proposals & funding

9. Non-currency Systems
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Can blockchain / cryptocurrency be
leveraged?
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Example Implementations
– Mining / minting add-on to operational system -
tuned to value for the community
– External network monitoring activity
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Likely Opt-in

10. Use Cases

11. Voting
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Mining based upon proven use
– Per instance of running system
– Per system request
– Per activity
– Network Participation
– Time factors

12. Funding
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Track and/or reward donations
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Directed to funding to features / fixes
– Bounty system
– Controlled by users, funders, developers
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Token/currency marketplace
– Developers and users ability to trade in/out

13. Incentives
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Clear development priorities
– Controlled by combination of users, funders,
developers
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Transparent operations
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Creation of value assets
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Transparent valuation
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Market analytics

14. Considerations
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Currency model
– Mining rules
– Single use – burn
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Inclusion of all network participants
– Developers
– Operators
– Network
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Privacy
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Network analytics
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Currency marketplace
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Complexity

15. Project?
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Creation of mining / minting components
– Integrate with existing projects/systems
– Configurable
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Ability to customize mining elements
– e.g. Apache tokens created per request
– e.g. Different value created for different operations
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Marketplace

16. Questions?