Open Source: Sharing is Caring!

Greetings to my wonderful subscribers and readers, Happy Odin’s Day!

Today I am asking for help! I am reaching out to all of you with a heartfelt invitation to join me in a remarkable journey.

Back in 2020, I embarked on a project to publish AI-augmented DDD Aggregate templates on GitHub. These templates promise to be invaluable for both launching startups and established companies delving into Digital Transformation (DX). Beyond serving as a foundational model for an "ML-driven customer preferences" component, they provide a glimpse into crafting a polyglot software service with cohesive Mobile (iOS + Android) and Web clients.

To help, please follow me on GitHub and fork my repository as I resume working on it!

What happened: Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of driving several DX projects and offering templates to help streamline processes. However, when I announced my intention to develop an open-source template, I received a legal action from one of my past customers. I want to reassure everyone that my intentions are rooted in sharing knowledge and fostering innovation. All learning and competence shared are founded on open, public knowledge - a hallmark of the Hacker Culture. I proceeded to challenge this action and won, closing months ago. As it turned out, the non-technical management at the customer’s was wrongfully worried that I will be giving out some proprietary knowledge or secrets, i.e., Computer Science; that made their once decrepit software development practice now so successful.

What did I do wrong: As I first ventured into independent coaching, I hadn’t developed any templates. However, as I observed recurring needs across different engagements, I was inspired to design abstract, reusable templates. These were not tethered to any specific customer or industry, but rather offered a foundational framework. My intention was simple: offer teams a robust starting point, allowing them to focus more on their unique business logic and less on foundational setup, as I’d be getting "things right" for them. This approach was a win-win! However, an unforeseen challenge arose. Many non-technical managers perceived these "accelerators," as they came to be known, as proprietary assets tailored for their companies. So, when I announced plans for an open-source template, it rang alarm bells in unexpected quarters. That was further exacerbated by the fact that I was developing the template alone!

Why the change of heart: Many reasons, because it’s the right thing to do. But in particular:

• kobweb: Through my recent journey, I was fortunate to connect with a remarkable hacker, bitspittle, also known to many as David Herman . David is dedicated to creating real value, evident from his work on the Kotlin Compose Web framework. This framework fills a gap in the Compose ecosystem, and it’s the perfect platform for me to provide a cohesive web client in my template. Moreover, David has his own templates, reinforcing the concept of consumer-driven development. This collaboration allows me to both contribute to and benefit from kobweb.
• AlGothAmaIgaNotions (again): Another pivotal influence was a beacon of positivity in the RTP hacker scene, aaronfllr, or as you might recognize him, Aaron Fuller . He played an instrumental role in molding our group into a co-mentoring collective, epitomizing the essence of community enrichment. During a recent group discussion, my apprehensions about publicly publishing the template were challenged head-on. It became evident that my friends' perspectives were spot on. And my fears are utterly unfounded.

I reached out to the concerned party and ensured that our intentions align for the betterment of the tech community. I’ve accepted their apologies, and now I’m eager to move forward, not solo, but with the support and camaraderie of friends and peers.

With immense gratitude and anticipation, I look forward to our collective growth and success in the realm of open source, DDD, and AI. Wishing you all health, happiness, and innovation!