3 lessons from my All Things Open experience

Celebrating the people behind the tech is like returning to space camp.

Attending the open source developer All Things Open Conference (ATO) always feels like reconnecting with camp friends. As I reflect on my experience, it has been a wonderful reminder of three things:

• ⛺ The creativity of open source developers
• 🔥 The resilience of open source communities
• 🥾 The humanness of the technology industry

I was also reminded that many projects and teams are strapped. 1-2 people often do the job of 4-5 people. OpenProject is an affordable (and open source!) tool that is like adding another person, without the time/money/effort needed to hire someone. It can help get you from A to B right now, bridging the gap while you’re getting the time/money/effort together to hire that wonderful human you need.

The All Things Open schedule was filled with keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities that celebrate and explore advancements in open source technology. It attracted a diverse audience including developers, data scientists, security experts, and community advocates who are passionate about open source innovation, practical implementations, and the collaborative spirit of open communities.

Day 1 highlights

• Morning keynotes included AI-driven code security, inclusivity in tech, and insights from Google’s 20-year support of open source.
• Breakout sessions focused on the following themes: DevOps, Linux, Big Data, Cloud, Blockchain, and AI, covering topics like “DevOps and Generative AI,” “Linux growth challenges,” and “AI integration with open source CI/CD.”
• Afternoon keynotes focused on solving open source maintenance challenges and exploring inclusivity to boost Linux’s developer base.

Day 2 highlights

• Morning keynotes focused on security in open source, developer communities, and leveraging LinkedIn for tech networking.
• Breakout sessions explored next-generation open source projects, such as secure infrastructure for IoT, scaling cloud infrastructure, GraphQL for APIs, open source AI advancements, and secure coding in the cloud.
• Closing remarks by the conference organizer Todd Lewis focused on lasting connections and celebrating the community’s growth.

This conference is a must-attend for those who champion open source’s collaborative spirit and its role in shaping the future of tech. The 2025 preview site is ready and they announced an All Things Open AI event in the spring of 2025. Don’t put your space camp gear away quite yet!

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This article is adapted from “Notes from the All Things Open conference USA” by Jen Wike Huger, and is republished with permission from the author.