We reflect on why open source has become so popular and how this changes one's life work.
Story: I've been recording counts as I run a wiki scraper over 700 sites. After collecting 250 samples I thought it time to start plotting. I tried and failed three times because just drawing a data-driven line was too much of a project. Then Plotly, who had the package I needed, chose to open source it. Done. See Sitemap Scrape Statistics
So now I am wondering, why did Plotly appear, fully formed, in the open source? What lead to this sudden change in strategy for a for-profit company? Is this really open? Can I build on it and expect my work to keep working? post 
Story: A project that I first thought would take days ends up taking years. I had support for the first year but after that it is nights and weekends. Am I failing or have I found an excellent way to work? See Infected with ROI
My pet theory is that agile in the hands of experts can create more diverse value than an organization can monetize. In an effort to fuel growth they open their surplus to bait further expertise into their employment.
My employer promises work/life balance. The office empties out at five. I choose to not read home email at work and not read work email at home. I have two jobs but only one pays. I notice that my technological decision-making process switches dramatically as I commute.
The new open provides an opportunity for me as an amateur explorer to probe organizational forms unattractive in colonial/industrial economies. Here lies my passion. See When Replicators Unite
The federation I envision provides an index to important things that don't yet have names. It can't be alphabetized. It need not hold things known to be true. But to survive, items must be interesting. That is their value.