Using the Commons without causing a tragedy

Learn how to use the digital commons responsibly and avoid contributing to its depletion! This session will provide practical guidance on how developers can utilize open projects without causing harm. Discover strategies for collaborative use, responsible contribution, and ensuring the longevity of these valuable resources. A lot of platforms and tools, open source and proprietary, rely on shared resources - the "digital commons". These resources, like code repositories, open databases or other resources, and online communities, are vulnerable to overuse and depletion, a phenomenon known as the "tragedy of the commons." This talk, aimed at developers building tools and platforms using these, explores how to utilize them responsibly, ensuring their longevity and the continued success of a digital commons for all. The presentation is available as a webpage at: aina.li/backstage2025