The document provides guidance on how to be an effective contributor to an open source project. It advises being a "zero" by having a neutral impact and doing the dirty work like documentation, testing, and bug fixing. This helps remove friction and invests in others' success rather than trying to prove your own value. The goal is to treat everyone with respect and criticize problems, not people. Proper preparation including understanding communication tools and processes is key to contributing successfully.

1. Aim To Be An Open Source Zero
Guy Martin
Director, Open@ADSK
guy.martin@autodesk.com | @guyma | @AutodeskOSS

2. 2
What I Do …

3. 3
What I Wanted to Do Growing Up …

4. 4
Inspiration

5. 5
Aim To Be a Zero
“When you have some skills but
don’t fully understand your
environment, there is no way you
can be a plus one. At best, you can
be a zero… but a zero isn’t a bad
thing to be …”
Colonel Chris Hadfield
ISS - Expedition 35 Commander

6. 6
Who Does This Apply To?

7. 7
Expeditionary Behavior Is …
“Being able to live & work with a group of
people 24/7 and to get along even when you
have a bad day.”
Paul Petzoldt – Founder – National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)

8. 8
Expeditionary Behavior
Sweat the Small Stuff
Invest in Other People’s Success

9. 9
Expeditionary Behavior
Lead by Example
Preparation is Everything

10. 10
Do Your Homework
Communication Tools & Norms
Development Process

11. 11
Do Your Homework
Leadership & Organization
Project Governance

12. 12
Offer to Do the Dirty Work
“The best way to contribute to a
brand new environment is not by
trying to prove what a wonderful
addition you are. It’s by trying to
have a neutral impact …”
Colonel Chris Hadfield
ISS - Expedition 35 Commander

13. 13
Offer To Do The Dirty Work
Documentation
Testing & Quality Assurance

14. 14
Offer To Do The Dirty Work
Bug Fixing & Triage
UI/UX

15. 15
Offer To Do The Dirty Work
Community & Evangelism
Answer Questions

16. 16
Professionalism
Treat Everyone With Respect
Criticize the Problem -
Not the Person

17. 17
No ego or company reputation
Treat Everyone With Respect
Human dynamics

18. 18
Bringing It All Together
… It’s About Removing Friction
… Not Rocket Science

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Final Thoughts
“… Proclaiming your plus-oneness
at the outset almost guarantees
you’ll be perceived as a minus one,
regardless of the skills [or value] you
bring to the table or how you actually
perform.”
Colonel Chris Hadfield
ISS - Expedition 35 Commander

20. Thank You
guy.martin@autodesk.com | @guyma | @AutodeskOSS