Contributor Covenant facts for kids

The Contributor Covenant is like a set of rules or a promise that people agree to follow when they work together on open source software projects. It was created by Coraline Ada Ehmke. Its main goal is to help make sure that everyone who helps build these projects feels welcome and safe. It especially aims to protect people who might sometimes feel left out or treated unfairly.

Many big software projects use the Contributor Covenant. These include important ones like Linux, Ruby on Rails, Swift, Go, and JRuby. Also, well-known companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Eclipse and GitLab support it.

What is the Contributor Covenant?

The Contributor Covenant is a special document that acts as a code of conduct. Think of it as a guide for good behavior. It helps people know how to act respectfully and kindly when they are working together on software. This helps create a friendly and welcoming space for everyone involved.

Why is it Important?

Working on open source software means many people from all over the world can contribute. Sometimes, misunderstandings or unkind actions can happen. The Contributor Covenant helps prevent this. It sets clear expectations for how people should treat each other. This way, everyone can focus on building great software without worrying about being treated badly. It helps make sure that all contributors, no matter who they are, feel valued and respected.

How it Grew

The Contributor Covenant was first shared as an open source document in 2014. This means anyone could use it and even suggest improvements. Its creator, Coraline Ada Ehmke, has said that over 100,000 open source projects have adopted it. This shows how widely accepted and useful it has become.

Making it Easy to Use

In 2016, a popular website for sharing code, GitHub, added a special feature. This feature made it much easier for new projects to include the Contributor Covenant. Also, a tool called Bundler, which helps manage Ruby software, added an option to include the Covenant in new programs. These changes helped many more projects adopt these important guidelines.

Recognition for its Creator

Coraline Ada Ehmke received a special award called the Ruby Hero award in 2016. This award recognized her amazing work in creating and promoting the Contributor Covenant. It showed how much her efforts were appreciated by the software community.

Impact and Evolution

When the Linux project adopted version 1.4 of the Contributor Covenant in 2018, there were different opinions within the Linux community. Some people were very happy about the change, while others had concerns. This shows that even good changes can sometimes lead to discussions.

In 2021, the Contributor Covenant became part of a group called the Organization for Ethical Source. This organization believes that "software freedom must be always in service of human freedom." This means they think that making software free and open should always help people and make the world better. This new connection helps the Contributor Covenant continue its mission of creating positive and inclusive environments in the world of technology.