The EuroSciPy Maintainers Track – A Cornerstone of the Scientific Software Community

Introduction

EuroSciPy is one of the leading conferences for scientific computing in Europe. Alongside exciting talks on new research results and technologies, there's an area that’s particularly important: the Maintainers Track. This article highlights what exactly happens within the Maintainers Track, who participates, and why it’s so valuable for the future of scientific software.

What is the Maintainers Track?

The Maintainers Track is aimed at the colleagues working behind the scenes – the maintainers of open-source software packages widely used in scientific research. These are often developers who, alongside their primary research work, also invest time keeping libraries like NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, or Pandas running, fixing bugs, developing new features, and supporting the community.

The Track is a special part of the EuroSciPy conference dedicated exclusively to the challenges and opportunities of software maintenance. It provides a platform for maintainers to:

• Share experiences: Exchange knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Collaborate: Work on common problems and develop solutions.
• Learn: Discover new tools and techniques that can simplify software maintenance.
• Network: Make contacts and build a strong community.

What happens in the Maintainers Track?

The program of the Maintainers Track is diverse and practical:

• Discussion rounds: Open conversations about current challenges and future trends in software maintenance.
• Talks: Presentations by maintainers about their experiences and successes.

A particular focus lies on promoting sustainable software development and creating an inclusive community. It’s about how to ensure that important scientific software remains available and continues to be developed in the future.

Who comes together?

The Maintainers Track attracts a diverse group of participants:

• Core Maintainers: The main people responsible for the development and of fundamental software for scientific computing.
• Contributors: Developers who regularly contribute to open-source projects.
• Research Software Engineers: Individuals who develop and maintain software in research institutions.
• Interested Parties: Anyone who wants to learn more about software maintenance and get involved.

Participants come from various countries and disciplines – from physics and chemistry to biology and medicine, as well as engineering and computer science.

Why is the Maintainers Track important?

Scientific research today relies heavily on open-source software. This software is often the result of years of work by dedicated developers who voluntarily contribute their time and knowledge. The Maintainers Track recognizes this effort and provides maintainers with the support they need to continue their vital work.

A well-functioning Maintainers Track contributes to:

• Improving the quality and reliability of scientific software.
• Driving innovation in research.
• Ensuring the reproducibility of research results.
• Building a strong and sustainable community.

Call to Action:

Please email us if you have a proposal for a maintainers session.