Michigan Open Source Software (MOSS)

Software & Content Thought Leadership Webinar Series

The Software and Content Thought Leadership Webinar Series covers topics that are relevant to protection, dissemination (ex. open source), commercialization, and industry collaborations for software and content-based research. Our webinar speakers have an array of expertise, including intellectual property (IP) law, commercial open source software and regulatory requirements for medical devices.

GitHub Garage

Schedule a consultation with us for actionable guidance on improving the usability & compliance of your GitHub repositories (UMichOpenSourceSoftware@umich.edu).

Group Meeting or Department Presentation

Schedule a group meeting or department presentation on open source license compliance, dissemination and commercialization (UMichOpenSourceSoftware@umich.edu).

Useful Cheat Sheets

• Common types of OSS licenses

• Checklist of documents required in your GitHub repo

Successful open source projects need a roadmap for development, promotion and community management. We have curated short- and long-term engagements to help you think through how to grow your user and contributor communities.

Email UMichOpenSourceSoftware@umich.edu to learn more.

Community Development Workshop (2-4 hour engagement)

We will guide you through a business model canvas-like brainstorming session to identify your value propositions, goals, needs and channels to grow and support a community. The brainstorming sessions are modeled after Mozilla Science Lab’s Open Canvas.

Long-term Community Development Support (1-2 semesters)

Your project will be paired with a fellow or intern to help you:

• Articulate and validate your project’s value propositions for different user & contributor communities

• Develop a product roadmap

• Develop marketing assets

• Develop community resources

• A/B test promotional & community development strategies

At the end of this engagement, you will have a blueprint for growing & sustaining a community and seeking follow-on funding.

Due to the high-touch nature of this engagement, a dedicated student or project manager is critical for success.

Contact us at UMichOpenSourceSoftware@umich.edu to discuss a tailored strategy to seek industry collaborations & sponsorship for your open source projects.

View open calls for federal & foundation grants for open source projects

• Open source funding opportunities

Commercial Open Source Software (COSS)

• Heather Meeker’s COSS Business Playbook and accompanying book, From Project to Profit

Community Development

• The Open Source Way – A guidebook for open source community management best practices

• GitHub Open Source Guides

Courses

• NASA’s Transform to Open Science (TOPS) – Open Science 101 – the Open Science 101 curriculum is a 5-module curriculum designed to equip researchers, students and citizen scientists with the knowledge and skills to navigate the principles and practices of open science, including developing an open science and data management plan.

Open Source Foundations

• FOSS Foundations Directory – A listing of non-profit foundations that host FOSS projects or are otherwise significant in the open source ecosystem.