The document is a slide presentation on how open communication and collaboration ("shared neurons") between many contributors is key to the success of open source projects. The presentation argues that open source thrives on constant communication between contributors, with people sharing work early and often, engaging in focused but slow discussions, and allowing for mistakes in the process of collaboratively creating something greater than any single person could achieve alone.

1. APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Shared Neurons The Secret Sauce
of Open Source?
Bertrand Delacrétaz
Principal Scientist, Adobe :: Former Board Member, ASF :: @bdelacretaz
images: Adobe Stock, unless otherwise specified
slides revision 2019-10-22

2. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019

3. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019

4. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019

5. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
If you want to go fast, go alone
If you want to go far, go together
(African proverb)
picture: myself

6. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Apache Cocoon's dev list,
circa 2003...

7. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
It's like love songs...

8. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
WHAT?

9. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Many brains
getting together
to create
a Greater Whole

10. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Neurons such as Purkinje
cells in the cerebellum can
have over 1000
dendritic branches,
making connections
with tens of
thousands of other cells
Source: Wikipedia:Neurons

11. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
It's about
COMMUNICATION

12. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Many brains
getting together
to create
a Greater Whole

13. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
REALLY?

14. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
https://s.apache.org/shared-neurons-example
6
5
4
3
2
1
90 days of "shared neurons" design:
asynchronous, slow, iterative

15. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Images: Wikimedia Commons + www.mcipollini.com
1817:
velocipede
2019:
Cipollini NK1K, 1050 g frame
A counter-example...
1886:
safety bicycle
1870:
high wheeler
+53 years +15 years

16. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
HOW?

17. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Neurons Talk a Lot! ...in focused conversations

18. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
It's about
communication

19. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Constant Flow

20. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Talk to the Project

21. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Share early, Share often

22. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Allow mistakes
"The more we fail,
the more likely we
are to eventually
succeed"
Prof.Shadoko,
Les Shadoks
(French TV , 1968)
source: https://www.ina.fr/emissions/les-shadoks/

23. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Code Speaks Louder

24. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Slow Discussions

25. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Quote Precisely

26. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Shared Neurons?

27. Shared Neurons
The Secret Sauce
of Open Source? Bertrand Delacrétaz, Adobe - @bdelacretaz APACHECON Europe, October 2019
Many brains
getting together
to create
a Greater Whole
Constant Flow - Talk to the Project - Share Early & Often - Allow Mistakes
Code Speaks Louder - Slow Discussions - Quote Precisely