In this episode of The ReadME Podcast, hosts Neha Batra and Martin Woodward look back on their growth and learnings from the past season, from pronunciation struggles to hosting highs. Next, they share a fun story about the world's first webcam at the University of Cambridge in 1991 and its coffee-related origins. The hosts then dive into the Digital Public Goods Alliance with Ricardo Mirón Torres, who highlights the success of open-source solutions like DHIS 2 in addressing global challenges, including its role in COVID-19 tracking in Sri Lanka.

The conversation then shifts to the Laravel PHP framework with Senior Editor Klint Finley, examining its popularity, ease of use, and the vibrant community surrounding it. Klint turns the interview around on Neha and Martin and asks about their favorite moments from the season to close out the episode.

• 00:00 - Martin and Neha reflect on their experiences and growth throughout the past season of The ReadME Podcast. They announce an end-of-season hiatus but promise new content in the future.
• 01:29 - First Commit: How necessity (and a little laziness) is the mother of invention.
• 03:50 - The Interview: The hosts interview Ricardo Mirón Torres, the technical coordinator and community manager for the Digital Public Goods Alliance, a UN initiative aiming to unlock the potential of open source to create a more equitable world.
• 18:20 - Feature Release: GitHub Senior Editor Klint Finley is back to discuss Laravel and why it has become a "secret weapon" for many developers.
• 29:20 - #askRMP: The tables are turned in this edition of #askRMP, and the hosts take the hot seat to share the lessons they’ve learned this season.

Looking for more stories and advice from the open source community? To learn more from the authors and experts featured on this episode, check out:

• Is Laravel the happiest developer community on the planet? By Klint Finley
• Realizing potential with AI by Anton Mirhorodchenko
• Accessibility barriers are bugs, not feature requests by Mike Gifford
• Digital Public Goods Alliance

Tell us what you want to hear more about next season! Send us an email to: thereadmeproject@github.com with your ideas and feedback.

And, we hope to see you at GitHub Universe 2023 November 8-9! Subscribe for updates.

Special thanks to Ricardo Mirón Torres for talking with us about the Digital Public Goods Alliance and how more people can get involved. To Mohammed Said for sharing his experience with Laravel, and to Senior Editor Klint Finley for his reporting on the Laravel community—and for turning the mic on our hosts for this episode!

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Programming languages are always in flux, and so is the way we use them. In this episode, we dive into the rise of TypeScript, with The ReadME Project’s Senior Editor Mike Melanson outlining its history and evolution. Hosts Neha Batra and Martin Woodward discuss the pros and cons of static typing, and Jordan Harband from TC39 shares his views on the benefits and limitations of TypeScript. We also hear from Aaron Gustafson on AI’s potential to enhance accessibility and highlights the projects that are leading the charge. And Kingsley Mkpandiok from the CHAOSS Project, responds to an #AskRMP submission with tips on encouraging non-code contributions within open source projects.

Here’s what’s in store for this episode:

• 00:00 - The hosts discuss the challenges of establishing web standards in open source communities when new technologies emerge.
• 02:38 - First Commit: The transformation of the world of stock trading from a chaotic, bustling floor to an automated and computer-driven environment. Our hosts highlight the role of open source, particularly Linux, in powering high-speed trading systems and enabling advancements in performance and speed.
• 05:40 - Feature release: The ReadME Project’s Senior Editor, Mike Melanson, discusses the rise of TypeScript and the pros and cons of statically typed languages.
• 18:24 - The interview: Aaron Gustafson joins the hosts to discuss the role of AI in improving accessibility. He highlights initiatives such as Microsoft's AI for Accessibility Grant Program, which invests in research and startups to drive innovation in accessibility.
• 36:10 - AskRMP: Kingsley Mkpandiok answers a listener’s question on encouraging non-code contributions. The key? Communicate that everyone’s skills matter.

Looking for more stories and advice from the open source community? To learn more from the authors and experts featured on this episode, check out:

• TypeScript and the dawn of gradual types by Mike Melanson
• Advancing inclusion with progressive enhancement by Aaron Gustafson
• From fixing computers on farms to democratizing DevOps by Kyler Middleton
• Turbulent times call for adaptive leadership by Tramale Turner
• Make your first open source contribution in four easy steps by Ruth Ikegah

Special thanks to Jordan Harband for sharing his insights on TypeScript, Aaron Gustafson for outlining the role that AI will play in accelerating accessibility, and Kingsley Mkpandiok for answering a listener question about encouraging non-code contributions.  

Check-out The ReadME Project, for more episodes as well as featured articles, developer stories, helpful guides, and much more! Send your feedback, questions, and ideas to thereadmeproject@github.com.

The influence of open source extends well beyond code. In this episode, we dive into the less-explored areas of the open source community, spotlighting their profound and wide-ranging impact. With host Neha Batra away for travel, Martin Woodward welcomes Kyler Middleton to discuss navigating the open source community in a highly regulated environment. She highlights the dual challenges of aligning cultural norms and overcoming technical barriers. Also, The ReadME Project’s Klint Finley is back to discuss the underappreciated importance of non-code contributions to open source projects. He emphasizes how roles such as marketers, graphic designers, technical writers, and community managers can be vital for the success of a project. Lastly, we feature a clip from our bonus episode with Kelsey Hightower highlighting the complexity of scaling a project like Kubernetes, which extends beyond technical challenges to include legal, financial, and community-related aspects.

Here’s what’s in store for this episode:

• 00:00 - The hosts discuss the far-reaching impacts of open source and outline the symbiotic relationship between non-code contributions and OSS in everyday life. 
• 03:02 - First Commit: How FarmBot is bringing automation to home gardening. Martin highlights how the open source community is putting a high-tech spin on backyard cultivation.
• 05:05 - The Interview: Kyler Middleton joins Martin to discuss everything from securing cloud applications to growing up on a farm.
• 23:45 - #AskRMP: Kelsey Hightower on managing open source projects at scale and the learnings that can be applied to projects of any size.
• 27:42 - Feature Release: The ReadME Project senior editor, Klint Finley, is back to discuss non-code contributions and why developers should prioritize supporting their creation and management.

Looking for more stories and advice from the open source community? To learn more from the authors and experts featured on this episode, check out:

• Non-code contributions are the secret to open source success by Klint Finley
• Finish your projects by Aaron Francis
• Do your part to secure the open source supply chain by Feross Aboukhadijeh
• From chaos to clarity: Use code visibility to illuminate unfamiliar code by Shanea Leven

Special thanks to Kyler Middleton for sharing her security and community insights, Kelsey Hightower for discussing open source at scale, and Sarah Rainsberger for highlighting the benefits of non-code contributions to open source success. 

Check-out The ReadME Project, for more episodes as well as featured articles, developer stories, helpful guides, and much more! Send your feedback, questions, and ideas to thereadmeproject@github.com.