Hired Through GitHub: Part 2

Smit Barmase and Bennet Fenner, two contributors who transitioned from open-source participants to team members at Zed, share their unique journeys and experiences of joining the company. Smit, a former web developer from Bangalore, India, was drawn to the performance-first focus of Zed and contributed significantly to Linux-related features and bug fixes, which led to his hiring. Despite time zone challenges, his work was reviewed asynchronously by the Zed team. Bennet, a Computer Science student from Germany, discovered Zed through a blog post and started contributing after purchasing a MacBook to try the software. He engaged actively with the Zed community and paired with engineers, which facilitated a seamless transition to a formal role at the company. Both found the open-source contribution route rewarding and educational, noting the autonomy and collaborative culture at Zed. Their stories highlight the mutual benefits of hiring through community contributions, as contributors gain real-world experience and relationships, while the company benefits from fresh perspectives and solutions.