Brand Building in Open Source: Why It Matters

Talk by Shannon Harper https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x/presentations/brand-building-open-source-why-it-matters Building a powerful open source brand isn’t about marketing hype. It’s about principles. This session unpacks how transparent values, genuine community engagement, and a user-first mindset create lasting trust and loyalty. Drawing on DBeaver’s evolution from a 2010 hobby project to a tool with over 10 million users, discover how prioritizing help over hype, collaborating openly with users, and fostering a likable, responsible voice transforms contributors into ambassadors and positions open source projects for sustainable commercial success... without sacrificing community goodwill.