Whenever I see an article talking about how younger generations don't engage with FOSS, I always take it as they actually meaning to say "younger generations [from specific segments of society in our countries]", and "our countries" always means Global North countries.
The global majority is very much interested in and engaged with the development and maintenance of free and open source ecosystems. I will die on this hill.
I need people in positions of power in the free and open source ecosystem to ask themselves: is it really that you're not seeing enthusiasm at all from younger generations, or is it that you're looking for it in the wrong place, or engaging with it in the wrong way? How much of that perception isn't fueled by the fact a lot of them aren't exactly like you'd expect them to be (and I'm asking this VERY broadly on purpose)?
Another thing: I'm tired of this one-dimensional expectation that people should work FOSS solely on principles defined by generations that came before us, and that anything else is considered to be undignified.
@anna These are important points.The next generation can't be a carbon copy of the group that can before them.
I'd also like to add that while there is a lot of enthusiasm for FOSS teaching and even maintenance, many projects struggle to bring newer people all the way into leadership and the conversations where they're planning for the future. And that's something that projects looking at their long term futures need to get better at.
@baconandcoconut 100%. Two years ago I was surrounded by brilliant people from the global majority talking about how difficult it is to climb that ladder; I've been facing some of those issues for a while now that I've become a more senior professional. Entering is hard, staying — and being appointed for and trusted in leadership positions — is even harder.
@anna I always wondered where the Spanish open source is. Or French. I fail to believe everyone writes English FOSS.
And I am really sure it is me who fails here, I am sure those communities exist :) (NB: I did not search too much)
And here in Germany I see different stuff from young folks. Preference for nodejs and other stuff. Other things they deem important/interesting. I recall many young folks from 3d printing 10 years ago. So I feel it is just "other" projects that they focus on.
@anna DISCLAIMER: I work at Red Hat since 20 years. As Evangelist for EMEA. I do our New Hire sessions since 15 years. I don't see a lack of enthusiasm in the younger generation. I do see their motivation being different. It's far more professional. They want to learn how to do things right, are more oriented towards being part of a team and less the "lonesome hero" approach. They expect and are eager for mentoring. They hope for and rely on learning from "the elders".
@jwildeboer That’s what I see too—I’ve been organizing Outreachy for almost six and a half years. I have managed almost 700 successful internships in FOSS. We receive almost 15,000 applications a year. I witness their enthusiasm and their hard work every single day.
The thing I struggle with the most right now? Finding proper mentorship now that I’m at a mid-senior level. Breaking into more leadership roles. Finding that “one chance” someone’s willing to give.
@jwildeboer That’s what keeps haunting us (my peers and I)—our career ladders are actually roller-coasters. Whenever we think we hit a peak, there’s always a very steep slope we need to work our way out of—barriers older generations seem to be unaware of or choose to ignore.