Can I depend on Software built By Volunteers?

Apache projects are managed by volunteers, can you really build your products, infrastructure or services on software managed by volunteers? The answer to this commonly asked question is a definite yes, in this session Ross Gardler will explain why this is the case. At the core of the argument is the fact that whilst contributors are volunteers here at the ASF they will almost certainly be paid by |someone for the time they spend working on our projects. This prompts a second common concern, can you really build your products, infrastructure or services on Apache software if you haven't got an army of staff to ensure the project is not "hijacked" by a third party. Once again, the answer to this question is a definite yes, in |this session Ross will explain why this is the case. In this session we will examine the meritocratic governance model used in Apache projects and explain how it ensures that even the smallest of organizations can become an important, even critical, part of a project team whilst also ensuring that no single organization can take control of a project by throwing resources at it.