Hi, I’m Darshan Sen, an award-winning Governance Member of high-profile Open Source projects such as Node.js and Electron. If you use these projects, there is a good chance you’re relying on code I’ve authored. Currently, I work as a Technical Lead at Postman, where I continue to blend open source with professional work.
It all started with Open Source
When I was first introduced to Open Source in university, I found the concept very fascinating. The idea that anyone, anywhere, could improve a software that thousands or even millions use every day, really captivated me. At the same time, I was also drawn to C++, a language many of my peers feared due to its complexity. That challenge pushed me toward contributing something meaningful to a C++ heavy open source project, so I began my search.
Hello, Node.js
In the fall of 2020, I cloned Node.js and attempted to compile it on my family laptop which was running a 32-bit Ubuntu OS. It failed to compile, so I submitted my first C++ patch to add back 32-bit Linux support and the maintainers landed it! That validation motivated me to work on more things that caught my interest in Node.js and its dependencies like V8, libuv and OpenSSL. I was nominated and subsequently appointed to serve as a collaborator and a voting member of the Technical Steering Community (TSC) by the project community. I eventually became Node.js’s 36th highest contributor out of 3,595 worldwide. To help grow the community, I provided one-on-one mentorship to numerous contributors and nominated and onboarded new collaborators. I’m best known for creating the Single Executable Applications feature in Node.js and leading the development of this strategic initiative which is critical to the success of the project. In recognition of my contributions, I received the “Outstanding Contribution from a New Arrival” award as part of the JavaScriptLandia Awards at 2022’s OpenJS World. Beyond honing my technical skills, I found a supportive and inspiring community.
Hey, Electron
I later became involved in the Electron project, where I rose to become the 54th highest contributor out of 1,303 worldwide. Eventually I was nominated and accepted into Electron’s Governance. My work there is primarily focused on performance. For example, I contributed a 60% speedup for a complex and long-standing Intel macOS issue that was slowing down the startup times in Google Chrome and all Electron-based apps.
Thank you, Open Source
Through Open Source, I’ve met some of my closest friends, which has led to exciting opportunities, including at Postman, the popular API Platform. As a Technical Lead, I work on Node.js and Electron related initiatives, mentor colleagues and help teams turn their goals into reality.
Open Source has not only shaped my career but also given me a sense of purpose, lasting friendships and a platform to give back to the developer ecosystem.
What’s in it for you?
If you need my expertise, get in touch on my personal email for consulting. If you appreciate my Open Source work, here’s your chance to support it directly.
Follow me on Twitter / X, LinkedIn and Bluesky for insights into Open Source and a glimpse of life through my lens. Follow me on GitHub for my Open Source projects. Follow me on YouTube to catch my talks. Let’s connect!
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