
I am an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, open source advocate, and developer with over 25 years of experience in software development. I work diligently to promote diversity and inclusivity in open source and the tech industry as a whole. I was recognized for my work with a Ruby Hero award in 2016. I am best known as the creator of the Contributor Covenant, the most popular open source code of conduct in the world, with over 40,000 adoptions including Linux, Golang, JRuby, Swift, F#, and Rails and the entire open source portfolios of companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Intel.
I am the co-author (with Naomi Freeman) of the upcoming book The Compassionate Coder, a guide to practicing empathy as a software developer. Slated for release in early 2020, you can learn more about the book at compassionatecoder.com.
I serve on the board of directors for Ruby Together, a non-profit that funds development of critical Ruby infrastructure like RubyGems.org and RubyToolbox.com. I was formerly on the board of RailsBridge, an organization that teaches marginalized people web development with Ruby and Rails.
I record music in my home studio and have released six albums, all available widely on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Google Play. You can hear samples and get links to listen or buy at alittlefirescarecrow.com.
If you appreciate my work in the community and want to show your support, please consider supporting me on Patreon or Open Collective.
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I am a frequent speaker at Ruby, Rails, and open source conferences
and events. I have given talks on four continents. My talks range from
technical topics to open source citizenship to explorations of the ways
that we think and model the world around us.
I have been recognized for my work in the press and have been
interviewed for print/online articles and podcasts on topics
including diversity and inclusivity, open source, and mentoring. I’m also the
author of several articles on these topics.
The world’s most popular open source code of conduct,
Contributor Covenant
has been adopted by tens of thousands of projects and, thanks to
community contributions, is available in over 20 languages.
I created The Hippocratic License,
a modified MIT license that specifically prohibits the use of open source
software to knowingly harm others.
In 2019 I launched the Ethical Source Movement, an initiative that
evolves open source toward justice and community. The site outlines the
philosophy of the movement and provides a modern definition of open
source.
Meritocracy favors the privileged, but remains largely unchallenged in the
open source community. The Post-Meritocracy Manifesto is a values-based
alternative to traditional governance of open source.
Beacon
is an open source application that brings safety, transparency, and
consistency to the enforcement of codes of conduct. It is currently in
private beta and will be launched in September of 2019.
I am a founding panelist on the Greater Than Code
podcast, a popular program that focuses on the human elements of
software development.
I have been contributing to open source since the late 1990s.
Over the past decade I have contributed to major Ruby and Rails open
source projects and authored more than a dozen Ruby gems.
I volunteer as a mentor to early-career developers, helping them
grow their technical skills, develop strategies
for overcoming bias and discrimination in the industry, and
manage their careers and public profiles.
Making an Impact
World-Class Speaker
In the Media
Contributor Covenant
The Hippocratic License
Ethical Source
Post-Meritocracy Manifesto
Beacon
Greater Than Code
Open Source Projects
Mentoring