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Channeling Community Contributions to Scientific Software: A Sprint Experience
Michael R Crusoe1, C Titus Brown2
1Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Journal of Open Research Software
|November 15, 2016
Summary
The khmer software project successfully engaged new contributors during a global sprint, completing 13 tasks and validating its development process. This initiative highlights effective strategies for onboarding new talent in scientific software development.
Area of Science:
- Scientific software development
- Open science initiatives
- Community engagement in research
Background:
- The khmer software project aimed to broaden participation in scientific software development.
- Mozilla Science Lab coordinated a global sprint to foster collaboration.
- Mentored experiences are valuable for engaging new contributors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the preparation and execution of a global sprint for the khmer software project.
- To evaluate the success of the sprint in terms of contributor engagement and technical output.
- To provide insights for other scientific software projects seeking to replicate this model.
Main Methods:
- Organized a two-day global sprint event.
- Provided entry-level tasks for new contributors.
- Offered mentorship throughout the development process.
Main Results:
- Successfully integrated 9 new contributors.
- Received 13 contributions to the khmer software project.
- Validated the project's development process through practical application.
Conclusions:
- Global sprints are effective for onboarding new contributors to scientific software projects.
- Mentored, entry-level tasks facilitate successful community participation.
- The khmer software project's open development model (http://github.com/dib-lab/khmer/) proved conducive to this engagement.
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