What are some benefits from continuing to contribute to open source projects throughout your career?
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Director of Engineeringa year ago
Open source contributions allow you to address use cases that are specific to your industry, which vendors may not always cover. So by contributing to open source, you are not just solving problems for your organization but also uplifting the entire industry. If you have an idea for something that would benefit your entire industry, you should go ahead and publish it and share that solution globally.
Open source software is incredibly important and fragile. Contributing to open source makes the world a better place and (if you're being selfish) it signals to the world that you are contributing to overall betterment.
Two write-ups I've saved on this:
- https://ben.balter.com/2015/11/23/why-open-source/
- https://github.blog/open-source/social-impact/software-as-a-public-good/
The go through the arguments point by point about why it's important and should be protected, but the points link closely to the personal benefit. For example "it's more secure" links to "you're associated with / learning about something that is secure".
There's no better way to stay abreast of development than contributing to open source and to balance out your professional life and give your work meaning when you need it.