Curating a group of people that build tools

togetherMerry Commitmas!

Agenda

•The case study of Commitmas•Where do you start?•How do you lead?•How do you sustain?

Dec 2014 Dec 2015 Dec 2016

What you see

What made it happen

Dec 2014 Dec 2015 Dec 2016

• Matt gathers some people

• They git for 12 days straight

Matt really wants to learn git with friends

Josh Coen starts a Slack group to collaborate.

This group of people blog about it together and help either other learn

• vBrownBag hosts 30 days of presentations thanks to Jonathan Frappier & Rob Nelson

• Cody Bunch lights a fire

• Commitmas focuses on 5 teams of contributors + presentations (thanks to JF again)

Where do you start?

I’m learning git by contributing to Open Source!

Someone says:

help I don’t get how to write a document in markdown, also what’s a rebase, and I’m also learning Python/Ruby/Powershell but I’m trying to write it when I don’t get what it means to have a constructor but what’s a method or impotency is that different than a function ok I’m going to have a small mental breakdown in the corner or become a farmer because I can’t computer and I feel dumb.

I hear:

Focus

Separate out each goal

•Learning git != learning code•Learning code != learning git•Learning git != learning markdown

Separate out each goal

• Learn git & only git• Learn markdown while using git• Learn to contribute to learning markdown• Learn code while learning to contribute

Where do you start?

• It’s okay to wander.

How do you lead?

Visualize Work

Ask For HelpMake it easy to help (and fun) with GitHub labels

How do you sustain?

Design Guidelines• Lead by example then document your expectations. • Start with:

README.mdCONTRIBUTING.mdCode of Conduct&Some kind of mission statement

https://www.hashicorp.com/blog/tao-of-hashicorp.html

Reduce NoiseGo make this rule in your inbox right now... • From is notifications@github.com •Move to Folder "GitHub Not Me" • Except if Body contains "@mjbrender" (with your username)

Be Thankful

One More Thing...

Commitmukkah is coming• December 24 – January 1• Commit to focusing on just git and markdown• Get reminded regularly in #commitmukkah by @bubbebot

TL;DR • Admit that you’re trying to learn too much at once• Respect that you can learn anything you want to• Review Commitmas years past for help• Reach out to others on Slack: https://commitmas-invite.herokuapp.com