What are Open-Source Happiness Packets?
People are generally much more loved than we think we are. But while it's easy for many to complain when they don't like something, we're often fairly silent when things are good. Open-source communities are no different, especially when our main communication channels are textual and virtual.
However, the feeling that you made a difference, that your work matters and has value, and that the people you work with are happy to work with you, is an awesome and important feeling. With Open-Source Happiness Packets, we're trying to spread that feeling.
How does it work?
Openly expressing appreciation, gratitude, or happiness to other people can be difficult. This is especially true when you don't know them very well. Many of us come from cultures in which people are not open by default about such feelings, and naturally feel uncomfortable or even creepy to share them.
Open-Source Happiness Packets is a very simple platform to anonymously reach out to the people that you appreciate or to whom you are thankful in your open-source community. Your message can be sent anonymously if you feel uncomfortable to share your name with the recipient. Of course, we encourage you to share your name, but it's completely optional!
Happiness Archive
If both the sender and the recipient agree, we can publish the Happiness Packet on the website. With this, we're building an archive of open-source happiness that people and communities can use to draw inspiration.
As an example, here are two random messages from our archive:
From Kiara Navarro to Alejandro Perez
Everything started when I attended the FUDCon Panama 2011, almost six years now. How fast the time goes. I just have heard the idea about operating systems that you can use with a different paradigm called free software and open source. Alejandro Perez was the second person that I meet from the Open Source and Free Software Community. Electronic engineer and programmer with a full passion for Fedora. Today I want to say thank you to Alejandro because I have learned a lot from him. It was a key piece of the puzzle to know what I know now about Fedora system and electronics as well. Thanks to this amazing panamanian, that I am completely sure that most of the LATAM community agree with me, he is a great contributor to the Fedora Project, and it always be.
From Chris to Natasha
You're talk was very inspiring. Teaching developers about writing apps to teach others various languages, in various languages. Wow. Thanks!