The document discusses strategies for leading an open source software community based on analogies to directing a choir. It recommends choosing tools and communication methods to support collaboration, leading by example, managing a mix of experienced and inexperienced members, celebrating successes and rewarding contributions to motivate the community. It also notes that projects can sometimes fail and stresses the importance of improving one's own skills before taking a leadership role.

1. © Copyright 2013 Bruno Cornec for Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Material Licensed under the CC-By-SA 3.0
FLOSSProjects
CommunityManagement
Visionfromachoirdi{rec|cta}torangle
Sept. 2013

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Introducing Myself
●
Software engineering and Unices since 1988
– Mostly Configuration Management Systems (CMS), Build systems, quality tools, on multiple commercial Unix systems
– Discover Open Source & Linux (OSL) & first contributions in 1993
– Full time on OSL since 1995, first as HP reseller then @HP
●
Currently:
– Master Technology Architect on OSL for the HP/Intel Solution Center, Grenoble
– OSL HP Advocate
– EMEA OSL HP Profession Lead
– Solutions Linux Conference and OWF board member. Conferences at WW level in LinuxCon, Linux.conf.au
– MondoRescue, Dploy.org, Project-Builder.org Project Lead
– LinuxCOE, mrepo, tellico, rinse, fossology, collectl contributor
– FOSSBazaar and OSL Governance enthusiast
– Mandriva, Mageia, Fedora packager
●
And also:
– Amateur singer (Alto / Tenor) and recorder player since 1976 and Choir director since 1987
– CD collector since 1981 (5000+ and counting) – Concert attendance since 1976
– Amateur photograph since 1976

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Do you lead a large choir ?

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Or self-sufficient
soloists ?

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Are the members inexperienced ?

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Do you work with professionals ?

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A mixed of experienced members and new comers ?

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Do you have soloists ?

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Also know your audience

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You chose the score and language suited for your choir

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You need a Forge ...

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... at least some tools
are needed

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... not only dev tools,
communication does matter

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Eat your own dog food

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Improve the rythm in the choir !

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Improve the tune in the choir during rehearsal !

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Help your choir members, and explain where you want to go.

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You may need collaboration with other ensembles

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Use existing competencies
for what they’re good at

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Give example !

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Well really
give example !

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Make choices
and apply them

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Work hard !

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Manage mix of professionals and amateurs

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Keep your humour

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Did I say
Lead by example ?

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Make concerts
(aka release eraly release often)

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Communicate on your concerts

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Communicate your passion

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Attire community members !

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Lead by example

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Get your family support as this is time consuming

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Celebrate your successes

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Reward contributions to the choir

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Sometimes a project dies !

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Before creating and leading a choir,
learn to be the best singer possible