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Introduction

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in open-source software (OSS) communities. Diverse OSS communities benefit from a range of backgrounds, qualifications, and perspectives, resulting in more innovative software products and greater social equity. Many OSS communities, such as the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), have launched DEI initiatives. However,  to the best of our knowledge, no empirical research has investigated the evolution of the state of DEI in OSS. Without a pulse check on the state of DEI, the ASF OSS community lacks an understanding of what has improved and what requires more attention. It is crucial to examine the evolution of DEI. 

To answer these questions, we conducted two cross-sectional surveys, the first in 2020 and the second in 2022, to assess the state of DEI in ASF projects, including the difference in contributors' perspectives and engagement over time. We adopted a multidimensional approach, examining four key diversity perspectives: gender, English proficiency, seniority, and country of residence.

Survey Report