Building and managing a successful open source project is no small feat, especially when it begins as a fork born out of the need to preserve openness. OpenSearch started as a response to the relicensing of Elasticsearch and Kibana, and over the years, it has grown into a vibrant, community-driven ecosystem. This year’s milestone of joining The Linux Foundation highlights the project’s commitment to open governance, collaboration, and long-term sustainability.

In this session, we’ll share the lessons learned from OpenSearch’s journey, exploring the strategies behind building a healthy, scalable, and inclusive open source community. From establishing clear governance models to fostering innovation with features like vector search and AI-powered capabilities, we’ll provide actionable insights for maintaining momentum and trust in open source projects.

Whether you’re starting a new open source initiative or managing an existing one, this talk offers a practical guide to navigating challenges, ensuring community alignment, and achieving long-term impact—just as OpenSearch has done.