Open Source Summit North America 2025

Growing new talent and attracting new developers is challenging for open source communities. Yet, it is vital to reach out to train the next generation of developers to keep the open source communities healthy and sustainable.

Equitable access to learning resources is a barrier for a significant number of new developers. It isn't easy for new developers to get a start in open source, connect with open source communities and contribute to them. It is equally challenging for employers to find new developers to add to their technical projects.

Shuah Khan will talk about Linux Foundation's six year journey to provide learning resources for new open source developers, opportunities to experts in open source communities to train and mentor the next generation, and make newly trained talent available to prospective employers.

In the vast landscape of the global Open Source community, Asia, despite its significant population, has historically seen limited contributions.
This session will delve into the recent surge in the establishment of regional user group in Japan and their ripple effects across Asia. We will explore the inception and growth of the OpenChain Project's Japan Chapter since 2017, which has catalyzed the expansion of regional communities in China, Korea, and beyond.
We will discuss the motivations driving individuals in these regional communities and highlight the unique characteristics of the OpenChain Japan community. Furthermore, we will examine the collaborative efforts between the Japanese community and other open source communities like the TODO Group, showcasing how these partnerships have amplified their impact.
Through our experiences, we will share insights on the essential elements for fostering successful regional communities in Japan. Additionally, we will introduce messages from the managers of OpenChain and the TODO Group, emphasizing the importance of integrating regional activities with the global open source ecosystem.

The origins of artificial intelligence can be traced back to Ancient Greek mythology and philosophy, where early musings on what it means to be human began. Throughout history, these ideas have shaped our understanding of intelligence and influenced our pursuit of creating machines like us. However, this quest often relies on an idealized version of what it means to be “human”, leading to the exclusion of diverse representations and perpetuating ableism. In this talk, we will explore how AI technologies contribute to modern ableism by reinforcing narrow definitions of intelligence and humanity. We will examine the exclusions inherent in these definitions and discuss whom these technologies leave behind and how. By understanding these biases embedded in AI, we can better address its role in society and work towards more inclusive technology.

Open source thrives on collaboration, but who gets to participate, and how? GitHub’s latest Open Source Survey provides key insights into the state of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in open source communities—revealing persistent challenges and opportunities for change.
In this session, we’ll explore data-backed strategies for fostering inclusivity at scale, blending insights from GitHub’s research with real-world case studies from diverse open source communities.

We’ll cover:
Key findings from GitHub’s Open Source Survey on inclusivity trends, barriers, and participation gaps.

Proven strategies for increasing diversity in open source projects, including best practices from GitHub’s programs and successful open source initiatives.

Lessons from the field: Case studies of communities that have successfully improved inclusion through mentorship, governance changes, and innovative outreach.

Metrics that matter: How to track progress in DEIA efforts without falling into vanity metrics.

Many organizations, companies, and departments are now eliminating DEI programs, and with this development, you may be asking what happens next. Even though DEI programs may be disappearing, the conversation around what it entails will still exist. How do we frame the conversation now, and what can we do to advocate on behalf of underrepresented groups? I will walk through some ways in which we can move forward. As someone who had to work with a global audience, I found that the term DEI did not always resonate with everyone. From that experience, I had to find ways to discuss the issues that DEI was meant to address, such as disparity in experiences, perceptions around fairness, the need for better communication processes, and psychological safety on teams. We can use these lessons with a global audience that had different histories and cultural contexts to ensure that conversation is relevant for everyone.