4 ms·

To me, the blog entry just shows that the author is overly emotionally invested in getting a very particular form of recognition (but without identifying it).

To me, the blog entry just shows that the author is overly emotionally invested in getting a very particular form of recognition (but without identifying it). If you did the work, and your employer paid for it, surely they know you contributed the fix and appreciate the leveling up you had to do to accomplish it. So you know what you did, the person paying you knows, so where's the problem? The way it is being presented makes it seem like nefarious work stealing went on. The thread posted doesn't indicate that though, and again, the people who matter know. Your gold star is the growth you got along the way, not the 'authored by' note.

seabass-labrax 3y ago
It's very difficult to 'prove' personal growth, even if it's tremendously valuable to yourself. Imagine if the author wanted to leave and seek another job: "I was a former contributor to the Linux kernel" counts for something. You don't want to have to follow that up with "but, well, I never got credit so I suppose you'll have to trust me :) :)".
- gorjusborg 3y ago
  Yes, I understood that was what the author was looking for: 'bragging rights'. The reality is that if you or he had been on the other side, you'd know that as a maintainer, you have enough to balance without worrying about everyone else's resume.
  - seabass-labrax 3y ago
    One can't always correctly assume the motivations for a contribution, but 'bragging rights', as you put it, rank pretty highly in my experience. To lead a sustainable project, one has to be sensitive to these motivations and make satisfying them a sufficiently high priority. That doesn't have to mean a three-page press release every time someone joins your project, but it probably means publicly thanking a contributor for their first contribution. Every project is different, but as for myself I believe I have been successful in balancing my responsibilities as a maintainer appropriately whilst giving credit liberally. If this has helped someone fill their resume and land a dream job, even the better for it!
- yencabulator 3y ago
  Someone trying to claim significant work experience based on a single patch would be a huge red flag. This blog post is a red flag on fire.
  - seabass-labrax 3y ago
    Oh, I wasn't suggesting that someone claim significant work experience, far from it. To prove your capabilities from FOSS contributions, you either have to (A) stick with one project for a long time and build up a strong reputation, or (B) make many small-ish contributions to a wide variety of projects. It's in that latter case that, without public credit, it can be difficult to prove to a potential employer that you really did the work.

seabass-labrax 3y ago

It's very difficult to 'prove' personal growth, even if it's tremendously valuable to yourself. Imagine if the author wanted to leave and seek another job: "I was a former contributor to the Linux kernel" counts for something. You don't want to have to follow that up with "but, well, I never got credit so I suppose you'll have to trust me :) :)".

gorjusborg 3y ago
Yes, I understood that was what the author was looking for: 'bragging rights'. The reality is that if you or he had been on the other side, you'd know that as a maintainer, you have enough to balance without worrying about everyone else's resume.
- seabass-labrax 3y ago
  One can't always correctly assume the motivations for a contribution, but 'bragging rights', as you put it, rank pretty highly in my experience. To lead a sustainable project, one has to be sensitive to these motivations and make satisfying them a sufficiently high priority. That doesn't have to mean a three-page press release every time someone joins your project, but it probably means publicly thanking a contributor for their first contribution. Every project is different, but as for myself I believe I have been successful in balancing my responsibilities as a maintainer appropriately whilst giving credit liberally. If this has helped someone fill their resume and land a dream job, even the better for it!
yencabulator 3y ago
Someone trying to claim significant work experience based on a single patch would be a huge red flag. This blog post is a red flag on fire.
- seabass-labrax 3y ago
  Oh, I wasn't suggesting that someone claim significant work experience, far from it. To prove your capabilities from FOSS contributions, you either have to (A) stick with one project for a long time and build up a strong reputation, or (B) make many small-ish contributions to a wide variety of projects. It's in that latter case that, without public credit, it can be difficult to prove to a potential employer that you really did the work.