This document discusses collaboration in open source software projects using MariaDB as an example. It describes how the MariaDB Foundation facilitates open collaboration through practices like publishing code in real-time, discussing plans publicly, and quickly reviewing contributions. The document emphasizes that all contributions are valuable, including code, testing, documentation and more. It provides guidance on how to contribute, such as reading documentation, code, and filing issues with patches or git branches. The goal is to make the project inclusive and ensure continuity through open collaboration.

1. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation1
* *
Collaboration in open source
Examples from MariaDB
Otto Kekäläinen
22.4.2016
Tampere, Finland

2. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation2
* *
What competitive advantage do the human species
possess that made us able to conqueror the planet?

3. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation3
* *
Symbols that can transfer complex information
across any distance or time with great accuracy

4. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation4
* *
Symbols extend our memory beyond
our brain.
Code extends our thinking process
beyond our brain.

5. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation5
* *
Towards the best solution in the world
Open source software development is exciting

6. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation6
* *
Funded by MariaDB.com, Booking.com,
Visma, Automattic (WordPress.com),
Odin/Parallels, Verkkokauppa.com...

7. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation7
* *
Ensuring continuity and
open collaboration

8. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation8
* *
Continuity
● The Foundation has the relevant
technical assets and tools (website
mariadb.org, version control repository,
build and release systems).
● The Foundation has copyright via staff
work and contributor work (CLA). For the
rest (some copyrights, trademark etc) the
Foundation has irrevocable licenses to
use (e.g. GPL, BSD).

9. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation9
* *
Foundation staff
● 6 persons, including ”Monty” Widenius
● Makes MariaDB available to as many
users as possible (porting, packaging)
● Single contact point for collaboration and
contributions
– The Foundation makes sure all pull
requests and patches are reviewed

10. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation10
Open collaboration
The Foundation is open, inclusive and
enables everybody to contribute and
collaborate on equal basis.

11. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation11
* *
Open source is an opportunity
● Freedom to use
● Freedom to study
● Freedom to improve
● Freedom to redistribute
Freedoms, not obligations

12. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation12
Open source vs. closed source
is like democracy vs. totalitarism
Even the best strategy
does not guarantee
successful execution

13. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation13
Collaboration
Give and get

14. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation14
* *
All contributions are valuable
● code
● testing
● translations
● documentation
● graphics, design
● packaging and distribution
● marketing, advocacy
● good bug report, feedback, ideas

15. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation15
* *
Who are the contributors?
● codership.com
● freesa.org
● galeracluster.com
● gmail.com
● google.com
● hotmail.com
● iki.fi
● mariadb.com
● mariadb.org
git log | grep Author
See https://mariadb.com/kb/en/mariadb/log-of-mariadb-contributions/ for details
● mongosearch.org
● openquery.com
● oracle.com
● primebase.org
● skysql.com
● suse.com
● tokutek.com
● twitter.com
● xiphis.org
● yahoo.com

16. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation16
Reasons to contribute
Scratch your own itch!

17. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation17
Reasons to contribute

18. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation18
Reasons to contribute

19. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation19
Reasons to contribute

20. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation20
Also for the fun of it!

21. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation21
Cost vs benefit in contributions
Keep it simple
(but not too simple)

22. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation22

23. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation23
* *
Facilitate collaboration, be inclusive
● Publish code in real time, not just at release time
● Discuss and plan on public mailing list
● Chat in the public (e.g. IRC online, meetings offline)
● Public bug tracker, transparent progress and
priorities
● Respond quickly to pull requests on Github and to
bug reports that have patches attached
● Keep documentation up-to-date, develop
documentation alongside code and allow also
contributions in documentation

24. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation24
How does one manage a big project
with millions of lines of code?
You don't.

25. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation25
Interfaces and APIs
● Divide and conqueror: modularize everything
● Split long files into separate files.
– Easier to read and grasp, easier to merge in git.
● Define clear interfaces between components so that
anybody using the interface does not have to care
what happens “behind the wall”.
● Use semantic version numbers (1.0, 1.0.1, 1.1, 2.0.,
2.2...) and other common conventions.
● Contracts and promises that the interfaces will
continue to work in the future too.

26. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation26
* *
Be inclusive

27. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation27
* *
Be inclusive

28. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation28
* *
Be inclusive

29. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation29
Collaboration problems?
Support requests and random ideas
vs
Real contributions and talent

30. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation30
Collaboration problems?
Automatic testing to help review contributions and focus human time on best contributions

31. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation31
Collaboration opportunities?
”Given enough eyeballs all
bugs are shallow” – Linus law

32. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation32
* *
How to contribute to
the MariaDB project?

33. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation33
Read the docs!

34. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation34
Read the source!

35. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation35
Technical requirements
● Clearly defined problem with an unarguable
solution
● No regressions or draw-backs
● The code might have been difficult to write, but it
should not be difficult to read
● Running code and test cases makes the best
evidence (example mysql-test/suite/encryption/t/create_or_replace.test)
● File issue at jira.mariadb.org
– attach patch or
– link to git branch

36. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation36
Legal requirements
● Signed MariaDB Contributor Agreement (MCA)
sent to foundation@mariadb.org

37. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation37
Quality
● Quality of submission
– the benefit must be big enough to spark interest
● Quality of submitter
– clear and active communication
– resilience
– reputation from previous submissions

38. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation38
Big or small – everything counts

39. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation39
Big or small – everything counts

40. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation40
* *
Your contributions are welcome!

41. © 2015 MariaDB Foundation41
Thanks!
mariadb.org
@ottokekalainen
otto@mariadb.org