✨ Series: Getting to know the wonderful Continuous Delivery Community
Enrique Encalada
Pronouns: he/him
Location: Germany
Who are you?
That is a great question! I am Enrique. I was born and raised in Mexico, but I found a second home in Germany. I hold a degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey and a master’s degree in software engineering.
I have been in the technology and software industry for over a decade, building technology services in the open, in collaboration with diverse teams from various companies.
Adopting open source software within an organization can be a complex task, and I often serve as the bridge to ensure a smooth, seamless experience.
My involvement with open source intensified through the Cloud Foundry Foundation, and since then, I have contributed to multiple open source projects. I also had the opportunity to work closely with foundations like CDF, and more recently, CNCF. Nowadays, you will find me as a maintainer of Project Shipwright.
I am also a husband and a father.
What are your hobbies?
I use the time for pursuing challenging goals (long term ones step-by-step) or expanding my knowledge in areas where growth is needed. Recently, I have taken up triathlon and finished my first Ironman 70.3.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I am not completely sure, but I have vague memories of a strong inclination for Architecture. That changed later, as I got closer to engineering.
What led you to a career in tech?
The limited opportunities in my major (electronics) right after graduation, forced me to explore other fields. I quickly realized the high demand for software development, and since I needed a job, it seemed like a good fit. Fortunately, I already had a solid foundation in software development.
Do you remember your first open source contribution?
I remember when I realized I could contribute, it felt like a true eureka moment. Before that, some of the software and binaries I used daily were like black boxes to me.
How did you get involved in the Continuous Delivery Foundation?
Project Shipwright started as a joint effort between Red Hat and IBM. In the pursuit of becoming a vendor-neutral project, we proposed Shipwright as an Incubation Project in CDF.
After that, I got closer to the foundation by participating in different working groups, attending meetings or at the CDF conferences.
What is your favorite thing/project/tech to work on?
As long as my role in the project allows, my favorite thing is empowering and encouraging others to achieve more. Whether it’s helping someone contribute their first issue, designing new features, writing blog posts, or even motivating them to speak at a conference.
Tell us about the thing you’re most proud of and why?
I am particularly proud of my involvement in Shipwright, from its inception to its recent milestone of becoming a CNCF Sandbox project. I look forward to seeing more achievements like this in the future, and I would be even prouder if I can help others become key contributors along the way.
What is the best connection you’ve made through open source?
A mentor once told me, “Light connection, deep relationship”, when talking about networking, and I have tried to follow that advice. Those would be the best connections, and through open source, I have been able to build them.
What is your #1 top tip for getting involved in the community?
Open source communities should be inclusive and welcoming. Start by joining a specific project community meeting (the how should be documented in their website or GitHub repository) and introduce yourself. If you want to get started with Shipwright, here’s how.
What’s your favorite open source conference?
It depends, conferences, like technologies, evolve over time and can be very different in just a few years. My favorite so far has been the Cloud Foundry Summit Europe in 2019.
Where can we find you?
LinkedIn, let’s have a chat!
More about Enrique
This year, Enrique won the CD Foundation Award for Most Valuable Shipwright Contributor.
