Neha Batra
Open source momentum and how to find it
Neha knows that to drive value, we have to start by focusing on everyone’s experience.
Amplifying the voices of the open source community
These unsung heroes contribute long hours to build software, fix issues, field questions, and manage communities, often without funding or recognition. We want the world to understand what drives them and learn about their journeys firsthand.
Anthony Sottile
Learning by doing, from Python to Twitch
Drawn to the community aspect of open source, Anthony uses Twitch as a modern classroom.
Aaron Turner // WebAssembly
From hacking prepaid phones to maintaining WebAssembly
Aaron Turner learned code to upgrade his phone, change his life, and give those with limited means access to better tools.
Tracy Hinds // Open Source Initiative
Asking tough questions to make room for valuable projects
Tracy Hinds works behind the scenes to resolve conflicts so open source developers can do their best work.
Limor Fried // Adafruit Industries
Leading the community of Adafruit
Limor Fried on making firm decisions, weeding out negativity, and building something better, together.
Nader Dabit // react-native-elements
From finding his calling to mastering React Native
Nader is energized by getting vulnerable on open source, learning, teaching, and connecting.
Shirley Wu
Chasing dreams, data, and creative coding
Shirley on creating art, representing Asian women in tech, and finding the work that resonates.
Monica Powell // react-ladies
Elevating others and making open source approachable
Monica nurtures inclusive spaces to educate, learn, be creative, and collaborate.
Segun Adebayo // Chakra UI
Coding at the speed of design with Chakra UI
Part designer, part UX engineer, Segun is all about accessibility, inclusion, and empathy.
Salah Al-Dhaferi // ReCoded-Org
Learning to code against all odds
After a challenging 15-year education journey in Yemen, Salah pays it forward by teaching aspiring young coders.
Tanner Linsley // chartjs
When open source is symbiotic with your business
Hooked on open source, Tanner has a knack for building solutions people need.
Lorena Mesa // pyladies
Building a globally diverse, welcoming Python community
Lorena finds the sweet spot between Python, politics, community governance and open source.
Jory Burson // jquery
Setting the right bar for open source standards
Jory takes matters into her own hands and asks the tough questions to optimize collaboration.
Marcy Sutton // whatwg
Making accessibility in tech the rule, not the exception
Marcy on the power of advocacy to normalize accessibility and bring more voices to open source.
Kathy Korevec
Chasing challenges to ship developer solutions
Armed with research, conviction and user empathy, Kathy is determined to find answers.
Brian Douglas // open-sauced
Taking a chance on others, and yourself
Bdougie on the pivotal (often heartbreaking) moments that led him to find his true calling.
Angie Jones // applitools
My differences are my superpowers
Angie makes a point to stay empathetic, share her knowledge, and give back to the community.
Safia Abdalla // nteract
Dream big, and follow through even bigger
Safia leverages her position as a maintainer to empower underrepresented contributors
Caleb Porzio // Laravel Livewire
Bringing simplicity, joy, and order to web development
Caleb on monetizing his craft and the value of transparency and sustainability in open source.
Gina Häußge // OctoPrint
It’s a 3D world, and we all belong
How Gina’s pet project grew into an entire ecosystem that took over her life (in a good way).
Nick DeJesus // use-shopping-cart
Shaping a more empowering future for eCommerce
Nick on more knowledge sharing, education, and support—and less code switching.
Shikha Mishra // Magento
Finding recognition and responsibility in open source
Driven by a strong work ethic, Shikha prioritizes happiness, work satisfaction, and community.
Jerome Hardaway
The modern veteran: A coding superhero
Jerome is changing the game for veterans, writing code, and seeking racial equality for Black Americans.
Andrea Griffiths
Part of something bigger, from the Army to open source
Andrea made a career change and discovered a new world of possibilities.
Michał Gołębiowski-Owczarek // jQuery
Looking deep to have a big influence
Michał’s work on jQuery is fueled by his attention to detail and desire to make an impact.
Mariatta Wijaya // Python
Breaking down barriers for women everywhere
A parent, engineer, woman of color, and open source maintainer, Mariatta leads by example.
Marc Cornellà // Oh My Zsh
Inspired to not only consume, but contribute
How Marc is driven by the community, its challenges—and due dates.
Robby Russell // Oh My Zsh
Finding strength and purpose in collaboration
How Robby relies on his team, mends software, and stays true to his project.
Wes McKinney // Apache Arrow
The sustainable future open source deserves
Wes prioritizes the community to improve data science tools and empower scalable solutions.
David Nolen // clojurescript
Scaling open source by creating potential
David believes in making space for ideas, staying true to your vision, and the power of “no.”
Chrissy LeMaire // dbatools
Finding connection and joy in the open source world
From the Bayou to Europe, Chrissy builds a life that would make her younger self proud.
Benjie Gillam // Graphile
The art of helping people and setting boundaries
For Benjie, open source isn’t just about sponsorships and code, but empathy and connection.
Gift Egwuenu // RubyGems
The connections behind the contributions
Gift starts small to ignite local and global open source engagement.
Alex Ellis // OpenFaaS
Balancing open source sacrifice and success
Even as he struggles with funding, Alex recognizes the value of creativity and camaraderie.
Evan You // Vue
Starting with an idea and building a community
How Evan empowers developers to first define and then reach their goals.
Jordan Harband // TC39
Maintaining kindness and commits
How Jordan approaches each line of code with compassion, gratitude, and purpose.
Issy Long // Homebrew
Learning, connecting, and building a routine
Issy stresses the importance of staying patient with themself and taking breaks.
Ovilia Zhang // Apache ECharts
Finding inspiration from, with, and for the community
Ovilia makes an impact by dedicating time to both code and creativity.
Dirk Lemstra // ImageMagick
A balancing act: Puzzles and practicality
How Dirk found the middle ground between his day job and open source.
Henry Zhu // Babel
A leap of faith: Committing to open source
How Henry bridged his faith and finances with open source.
Sonia John // ProtoSchool
Me, my computer, and the will to act
Sonia’s journey from self-taught coder to decentralized web advocate.
Samson Goddy // Sugar Labs
Dreaming big to unify Africa’s open source community
Samson proves that it takes just one inspired developer to ignite change.
About The
ReadME Project
Coding is usually seen as a solitary activity, but it’s actually the world’s largest community effort led by open source maintainers, contributors, and teams. These unsung heroes put in long hours to build software, fix issues, field questions, and manage communities.
The ReadME Project is part of GitHub’s ongoing effort to amplify the voices of the developer community. It’s an evolving space to engage with the community and explore the stories, challenges, technology, and culture that surround the world of open source.
Nominate a developer
Nominate inspiring developers and projects you think we should feature in The ReadME Project.
Support the community
Recognize developers working behind the scenes and help open source projects get the resources they need.