Committer Profile: Philip Langer

At a Glance: Philip Langer

Why did you first get involved in open source software communities?

I started using Linux in about 2005 when I was at the Vienna University of Technology. By 2007, I was working with the Eclipse Modeling Framework, and later, did my master’s thesis and PhD based on tools such Eclipse EMF Compare and other projects related to the Eclipse Modeling Framework. At that time, I was primarily a user of the frameworks.

How did that involvement lead to you becoming a committer at the Eclipse Foundation?

The frameworks are pretty complex, so I needed to look at the source code. I became more and more interested in open source because I realized that the ability to look at the source code and adapt it to your needs helps you use those frameworks more efficiently.

Over time, I developed a better understanding of how the frameworks function and was able to provide feedback on bug reports, and even contribute small fixes.

When I joined EclipseSource in 2014, I started contributing to the Eclipse modeling projects on a regular basis. These contributions gave me the experience needed to become a committer.

How would you summarize your experiences as a committer?

The most rewarding thing is having the opportunity to evolve and shape software that’s used by so many other people. You can really have an impact.

It’s also very rewarding to receive constructive feedback from highly talented and experienced peers in the open source community. You’re collaborating and getting new ideas from people all over the world, and that’s pretty cool.

With frameworks, you always have to balance how generic the framework remains while considering complexity for developers and extensibility.

We collaborate and have discussions in a very open manner to find the right compromises between specific functionality and the complexity and maintainability in the long run. It’s challenging, but it’s also what makes open source great. It’s very rewarding when you collaborate with people who have the same ideals and goals as you do, and find the right balance.

It’s often surprising to learn how people actually use the software you’re working on. But it’s a very positive thing because you learn about use cases you never would have thought would be a good fit for that framework. 

What are your next steps and goals as a committer and Eclipse Foundation community member?

My main focus is on the Eclipse cloud development projects, such as Eclipse GLSP, Eclipse Sprotty, Eclipse EMF.cloud, and Eclipse Theia. I think there’s great potential to make existing EMF technologies available and accessible in modern technology stacks and user interfaces so they can be used in cloud applications.

What would you say to developers who are considering getting more involved in open source software projects at the Eclipse Foundation?

In my early days as a contributor, I was excited, but also a bit anxious to put myself out there in public. But I’ve always received very encouraging and helpful feedback that made my contributions, and the overall project, better in the end.

I really recommend that people start engaging with the projects they use. Your efforts will be very much appreciated, and you’ll learn a lot as a developer because you’ll receive feedback from very talented and experienced people. You’ll also develop many friendships.