Open Source Summit + Embedded Linux Conference North America 2026

Traditional developer relations relies on metrics that favor product adoption, but successful open source developer relations demands a more nuanced approach. Your organizational role in and goals around open source projects dictate your strategy.

We'll first dissect where and how open source developer advocacy diverges from proprietary developer relations strategies. We’ll then dive into four distinct engagement models, metrics of successful advocacy in each, and why success in one cannot necessarily be transferred to another:
* The Adopter: Companies advocating for an open source technology used heavily internally.
* The Champion: Companies serving as a major contributor to a mature open source project and its ecosystem.
* The Business: Companies building a commercial offering around an existing open source technology.
* The Founder: Companies open sourcing a new project and building its community from zero.

Attendees will leave with a clear framework for diagnosing their organization’s role in the open source ecosystem and an understanding of the which metrics, communication channels, and contribution strategies will actually lead to sustainable community growth and impact.