https://news.apache.org/foundation/entry/alc-taipei-igniting-the-apache-open-source-movement-in-taiwan
*By: Chia-Ping Tsai (ALC Taipei Chief)* We are absolutely thrilled to announce the official launch of the Apache Local Community (ALC) Taipei <https://www.facebook.com/opensource4you>, established with the full support of The ASF! ALC Taipei is a dynamic, volunteer-driven collective, deeply rooted in Taiwan and powered by engineers passionate about Apache open source technologies. We are dedicated to promoting and making substantial contributions to world-class open source projects. The driving philosophy behind ALC Taipei is captured in its moniker: OpenSource4You. We aim to transform open source into a crucial pathway for every Taiwanese engineer to expand their expertise, elevate their skills, and forge strong connections with the global tech community. Global Influence, Engineered in Taiwan: Beyond the Code ALC Taipei members firmly believe that impactful open source is more than just lines of code—it is a culture of collaboration and a model for innovation. Our contributions have already made a significant footprint across several flagship Apache projects: - Apache Kafka: Our ALC members’ contributions rank us as the second-largest contributor to the Kafka project. With two PMC Members and multiple Committers, our members actively lead major architectural shifts. For instance, we spearheaded the removal of tens of thousands of lines of Zookeeper-related code, managed the Log4j 2 migration, and executed critical memory optimizations, all to enhance Kafka’s stability and security. - Apache YuniKorn: Multiple members are Committers and PMC Members and have proudly presented YuniKorn’s cutting-edge features at Community Over Code Asia 2024. - Apache Airflow: ALC members have delivered revolutionary improvements to the Airflow UI, including the introduction of Gantt charts, calendar views, and comprehensive multi-language support. Crucially, those individuals are heavily involved in developing core features like Human-in-the-loop and provider integrations for External Event Driven Scheduling, with some achieving Committer and PMC Member titles in 2025. - Apache Mahout: Our members are actively pioneering the transition to QuMat (Quantum Computing Interface), essentially a “reboot from scratch.” This effort has already seen two bright young students appointed as a PMC Member and a Committer. - Apache Ozone: Our members have earned Committer and PMC Member status and have presented high-impact technical designs and implementations, such as S3 Lifecycle Management, at community conferences. ALC contributors to Ozone are currently focused on achieving feature parity with S3. - Apache Gravitino: As Gravitino progressed through the Apache Incubator, three ALC members became Committers and are central to key feature discussions, including the design and optimization of the Metadata Cache System. The Power of Mentorship and Community Engagement The enduring success of ALC Taipei is built on its robust Mentor-Mentee succession model. We connect aspiring contributors with senior engineers from global tech leaders, providing hands-on guidance to navigate and contribute to complex open source projects. Our activities are designed to spread knowledge and foster passion: - Tech Executive Insights: We regularly host in-depth sessions featuring industry titans—including founders, senior executives, VCs, and professors—to share deep insights into open-source technology foresight, the symbiotic relationship between open-source technology and career development, and commercial introductions to open-source-related startups. - Open Source Challenges & Incentives: Through our members’ contributions, ALC Taipei offers tangible rewards (such as cash prizes and development hardware) to actively encourage sustained contributions from students and emerging engineers. - Hands-on Training and Recognition: The community actively promotes participation through regular contribution challenges, specifically designed to galvanize students and junior engineers. Furthermore, we publicly acknowledge and celebrate member contributions through dedicated articles and events, highlighting their journey and achievements in the open source world. - In-Person Networking: Hosting regular meetups and offline gatherings where members can exchange deep technical knowledge, share career advice, and solidify lasting community bonds. - Practical Knowledge Sharing: We actively encourage members to document their hands-on journey and insights gained during the contribution process. This includes writing detailed technical articles, where they share valuable expertise and lessons learned. This practice not only reinforces individual learning but also establishes a public portfolio and accelerates collective knowledge transfer. - Global Exposure: Consistent participation in international open source summits like Community Over Code <https://communityovercode.org/>, showcasing our members’ contributions on the world stage annually. Future Vision: Showcasing Taiwan’s Software Prowess The establishment of ALC Taipei is a foundational step toward hosting premier international open source events, such as Community Over Code in Taiwan. More significantly, through continuous open source contributions, we are irrefutably proving the high caliber of Taiwanese engineering talent. Our goal is to create a platform where Taiwan’s finest minds can make a global impact on world-class projects without needing to leave the island, ensuring the world acknowledges Taiwan’s vast potential in the software domain. Our Gratitude to the Contributors Who Define ALC Taipei We extend our deepest gratitude to all contributors. It is the collective passion, dedication, and selfless sharing of every single member that has brought ALC Taipei its current international visibility and achievements. Let us continue this journey together, writing the next influential chapter in Taiwan’s open source history! Aaron Chen (Apache Airflow Contributor), Charlie Cheng (Apache Gravitino Committer), ChengHao Yang (CNCF Ambassador), Che Yu Wu (KubeRay Contributor), Chi-Sheng Liu (Apache Submarine Committer), Chih-Yuan Chien (Apache Kafka Contributor), Chung-En Lee (Apache Ozone PMC), Dandelion Huang (Mooncake-Labs Moonlink Contributor), Eddie Tsai (Liger-Kernel Contributor), Eric Chang (Apache Gravitino Committer), EricccTaiwan (Sched-ext Collaborator), Evans Ye (Apache Member), Fu.Jian (Apache Kafka Contributor), George T. C., Lai (Apache Gravitino Contributor), Guan-Ming Chiu (Apache Mahout PMC Member), Han-Ju Chen (Ray & KubeRay Contributor), Han-Wen Hsu (Apache Ozone Contributor), Huang-Hsiang Cheng (Apache Iceberg Contributor), Jhe Chen Li (Apache Airflow Contributor), Jhen-Yung Hsu (Apache Kafka Contributor), Jie-Kai Chang (Ray Contributor), Jimmy Wang (Apache Kafka Contributor), Jiunn-Yang Huang (Apache Kafka Contributor), Jui-An (Rueian) Huang (KubeRay Committer), Jun Hao Wan (KubeRay Contributor), Kai-Hsun Chen (Apache Submarine PMC Member), Kevin Su (Apache Submarine PMC Member), KUAN-HAO,HUANG (Apache Mahout Committer), Kuan-Po Tseng (Apache YuniKorn Committer), Kuo-Hao Huang (Apache Datafusion Contributor), LAI YU-CHEN (Apache Ozone Contributor), Leonz / LeonzChang (Apache iceberg-rust Contributor), Luke Chen (Apache Kafka PMC Member), Nary Yeh (Flyte Maintainer), Nick Guo (Apache Kafka Contributor), Parker (Apache Kafka Contributor), PoAn Yang (Apache Kafka Committer), Raymond (Apache Iceberg Contributor), Ryan Huang (Apache Yunikorn Contributor), Shadow Chen (Photographer), Ted Liu (Apache Member), Teng-Yao Chi (Apache Kafka Committer), Tingyao Huang (Apache YuniKorn PMC Member), Troy (KubeRay Contributor), Tseng Chun-Chih (Liger Kernel Maintainer), Wei-Chiu Chuang (Apache Member), Wei Lee (Apache Airflow PMC Member), Xun Liu (Apache Member), You-Cheng Lin (Ray & KubeRay Contributor), Yu-Chia Ma (Apache Kafka Contributor), Yusin Huang (Apache airflow Contributor), Zhe-You(Jason) Liu (Apache Airflow Committer), Zili Chen (Apache Member)
