Meet This Year's Top Committer Nominees

David Williams

DZone: Congratulations on the nomination David. Could you tell us more about yourself?

David:I've worked in the software industry for 25 years, all for IBM. First in Usability, making products (software and hardware) easier to use. Then in Software Consulting, mentoring customer developers on how best to use VisualAge for Smalltalk, and then VisualAge for Java, along with all the principles and best practices of OO Programming.

And then I worked with Eclipse. At first, for several years, I was a consumer of Eclipse which formed the platform of some some commercial products we were developing. In 2004 we started the Web Tools Platform Project and that's when I became an Eclipse committer.

DZone: What are the main things that you do within the community?

David:I am the WTP PMC Lead where I try to influence the whole of WTP in positive directions and try to keep it vibrant, and diverse.

I'm also on the Eclipse Foundation Planning Council, which is a group made up of members from each Eclipse Project, and together we decide how and when to do our simultaneous release each year.

I also recently became lead of the Orbit Project, which is a repository of OSGi bundles for use by other Eclipse Projects.

So, I have lots of opportunities to work with other Eclipse Projects. In day-to-day terms, the main things I do are monitoring the mailing lists and bugzilla notices, helping to answer questions when I can. Looking for ways to make things easier for developers and the community.

DZone: How long have you been involved with Eclipse?

David:Technically, I was involved before it was called Eclipse ... and, before there was an Eclipse Foundation. But, I like to think of "starting" in 2004 ... about the same time the Eclipse Foundation was formed ... and when I became an official Eclipse committer. Then I learned that developing in the open makes you very vulnerable ... everyone can see your mistakes and ignorance. It turns out, luckily, that is a good thing. Gradually I have became less involved in day-to-day programming, and more involved in over all project leadership and architecture.

DZone: Do  you have a favorite project within the Eclipse ecosystem?

David:Web Tools of course!

DZone: In the Eclipse world, what were your highlights of 2008, and what are you looking forward to in 2009?

David:The Releases and advances in the Web Tools Platform are always the largest highlights. But the most personally rewarding things are the smaller, everyday things ... seeing incubating projects start to blossom, seeing the collaboration between projects and developers bloom into some useful result or bug fix. Plus, I do look forward to EclipseCon every year!

DZone: What is your full time job?

David:This is it! I'm very lucky (or, crafty?) that my company is willing to pay for my (nearly) full time involvement with Eclipse. I have the impression that's becoming more rare at Eclipse. Of course, that's not just altruistic on their part. Eclipse in general, and the parts I'm responsible for, all benefit our Products in one way or another.

DZone: What do you like most about contributing to Eclipse?

David:The collaboration with a wide-range of diverse groups. I think development in the open is the best way to develop software ... and, makes it more interesting and fun to see others ways of working or solving a problem.

DZone: Is it difficult for you to find the time to commit to Eclipse projects?

David:There's never enough time in the day, if that's what you mean, but on the other hand, I always make time to contribute something. 

DZone: Why do you think you should be chosen as Top Committer?

David:Honestly, I do not know. Don't get me wrong, I'm honored to have been nominated ... and enjoy being appreciated, just like everyone does ... but there are so many talented and deserving people at Eclipse, I think it is very hard to choose any particular one as "top".

I think I was nominated because I have helped some incubating projects get started at Eclipse. Part of that is helping them get through the bureaucracy and technicalities, but I'd like to think, too, that I help new committers feel more comfortable and learn the ways of Eclipse.

So now you have met most of the nominees for the Top Ambassador, Top Contributor and Top Committer awards. We hope that we have made it easier for you to choose who to vote for.

James is a DZone Zone Leader and has posted 231 posts at DZone. You can read more from them at their website.