Open source communities are more about sharing ultimate value rather than just building something. They love to contribute and impact people all across the globe. Open source culture is more than just reusing free code on GitHub to get products to market faster.

The open source culture embraces an approach to software development which totally lays emphasis on all round collaboration and helpful nature, the teams tend to focus more on increased competencies instead of core infrastructure and cross channel implementation.  The culture embraces an approach to software development that emphasises internal and external collaboration, an increasing focus on core competencies instead of core infrastructure, and implementation of DevOps processes commonly associated with microservices and cloud native technologies. 

What are the key traits of an open source community and culture?

A responsibility to contribute 

Open source involves a broad range of technologies and a diverse set of people who bring some or the other expertise to the table. Often people are more inclined towards contributing the best of their individual abilities. They feel the responsibility to contribute and make sure they are often involved in the betterment of multiple projects and are they are often people are members of multiple projects, involving a broad range of technologies. Frequently, member recognition isn’t set by how much they’re paid or what titles they’re called. It’s how much of a headache is solved or endured for others. 

 All round responsibility and accountability

Accountability between members begins when they know each other as people and professionals. It’s especially important to have consistent written contact, ad hoc and scheduled video conferencing, and meeting in person at least once a year to build personal bonds.

Seamless and undeterred Collaboration

Collaboration for an open source organisation culture stretches across multiple areas. Well into domains like organisation goals, cultural fit, and more.

Team members who define together what a cultural fit is demonstrates what's important to the organisation. Just as, a united group of passionate hackers and designers who take part in the joys of community sharing, they want to hire those having like interests and similar ideals.

More inclination towards automation

Automating tasks within an organisational culture is about respecting people’s effort while not wanting them to be distracted from getting the right thing done when needed. 

Organisational members focus ultimately should be on what’s important to them and, in turn, the organisation.

Consistency in everything 

The consistency of people, processes, and management thereof is the glue of an open source organisation culture. Without consistency of action, principles and guidelines flounder despite the best of intentions.

Streamlined Processes

It's extremely hard work to develop fundamentals when shortcuts and hacks so often seem to provide great short-term benefits. However, consistency is the key to positive long-term results.  

For example; there needs to be a detailed and consistent process in hiring for fit, not skills, and for the long-term. Beyond these two key criteria, the candidates should also be demonstrably capable, driven, and passionate for the role to be filled.  

An underlying passion 

The underlying spirit to do good work is hard to find, it comes to you upon due search. And it is more powerful than any other driving force in the professional landscape. You will strive harder and harder for the things which mean something to you and the Drupal community makes you feel connected to their growth, you grow as they grow, which ultimately helps you feel the need to deliver sheer excellence. 

Shared Responsibility

At an organisation, culture becomes the way you work. Through culture, there’s a shared responsibility for good communication and positive results. In communicating with clients and one another, it needs to be timely, considerate, and accurate. 

Drupal: For great community and culture

Drupal has a predefined set of values and principles

Drupal, since its inception was built around a foundational set of values and principles. The agenda was to gather a community of like minded individuals and bring them on the same page about the vision and mission of the product and its roadmap.

Drupal’s code of conduct and CWG 

Drupal community's Community Working Group comprises of independent volunteers who strive hard to protect and promote the health of the entire Drupal community, they also help and maintain and keep on track the Drupal Code of Conduct and also act as the escalation body to help mediate conflict between community members. 

What should make you want to contribute to Drupal?

Can you imagine hundreds of thousands of people relying on your code or waiting to get some feedback from you? Their business’s growth is dependent on the advancements you make in your contribution. The more you contribute the better your worth and stance in the community, what is better than people believing, listening and relying on you for some advancements in the community? 

Final word 

Open Source is here to stay and develop software that has a huge impact upon individuals and businesses. People continue to make efforts because of their underlying passion for building great things and open source communities are an example of that.