Mariam Guizani

Open Source Software (OSS) is no longer a “weekend warrior’s endeavor". Over the last 20 years, the OSSecosystem composition has changed drastically. OSS is nowfundamental to company operations–not only for the code thatthey depend on, but also for their role in an ecosystem towhich they actively contribute. This is a paradigm shift from the early days when OSS was viewed as a threatthat commoditized software to today where individuals andcompanies work symbiotically. From large technology companies to startups, companies are participating in the OSS ecosystem by open-sourcing their technology and sponsoring projects through funding or paid developer time. However, our understanding of the OSS ecosystem is rooted in the “old world” model where individual contributors sustain OSS projects. In this talk, we will discuss our findings on what motivates companies to contribute to OSS, the multifaceted ways they contribute to OSS, and the lessons learned. We hope these findings help nudge more companies to participate in the OSS ecosystem and continue to foster a symbiotic OSS and company relationship, ultimately creating a sustainable open- source community. Join us!