Corporate Code to Open Source: Tim Boudreau on Making the Transition

About this Episode

In this episode of the G-Research Open Source Software Outreach Podcast, we sit down with Tim Boudreau, one of the early members of G-Research's open source initiative. Tim shares his unique perspective on transitioning from 30 years of writing proprietary software to working in open source communities.

We explore the challenges of moving from the controlled environment of corporate development to the exposed world of public repositories, where your code is visible from day one. Tim discusses the psychological shifts required, from developing a thicker skin to handling rejection, and shares candid stories about both successful contributions and frustrating rejections from major open source projects.

The conversation covers practical advice for developers considering their first open source contributions, the importance of community engagement, and strategies for testing the waters before diving into major contributions. Tim also touches on his current work with NVIDIA's Big AI framework and how G-Research has evolved from having an insular and closed security posture to being an active participant in the open source ecosystem.

G-Research is hiring in Dallas, TX and London, UK! Apply at https://gresearch.com/vacancies.

For a video version of this podcast, check out https://youtu.be/-nJHBWtcTug.

The GR-OSS OUT Podcast is produced by Ben Wiley.