Portland State Magazine Fall 2012

OPEN INNOVATOR Alumnus Jacob Redding is bringing high-profile web development to Portland. WRITTEN BY CLAIRE SYKES WITH THE WIND whipping his face, Jacob Redding '03, MS '04 muscles the 100 miles from Portland co the Oregon Coast. He bicycles everywhere, bur the open road cannot be bear. Open also defines his preference in computer software, including something called Drupal. Ir's among the largest and most active open-source programs in the world for website management. Redding is executive director of the nonprofit Drupal Association, now based in Portland. Unlike proprietary software, open-source software makes its under– lying source code-the program's instructions-accessible, transparent, and free. Thar means anyone can download Drupal, use it, change it, and see other users' modifica– tions-without paying a cent. "Think of it this way," says Redd ing, 33, leaning forward with a smile. "The source code is the map co how something works, like a building's blueprints. Just as an architect has access co those, anyone working in software should have access co the source code." Developers make about 3,500 source code changes per week co Drupal, which all go through a peer review process before approval. "On the geeky side," says Redding, "Drupal is a modular, extensible, and robust framework, so they can build more complex websites and web applications more quickly." It all began in 2000 as a small online dorm message board built by two University of Antwerp students, Hans Snijder and Dries Buycaert. In 2006, Buyraert starred the Drupal Association in Brussels, Belgium. Today it's Drupal open source web software powers millions of sites including PSU's. grown co power about a million websites, from personal biogs co small-business, corporate, government, and educational sites. PSU's website is one of them. By 2009, PSU's expanding website had reached a complexity that warranted a change. Enter Drupal. "Ir's a very flexible software program chat can grow as the University grows. And if we wanted co, we could quickly integrate 24 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE FALL 2012 new features, such as social media and biogs, at a minimal cost," says Kristin Boden-MacKay, director of web com– munications at PSU. "We also chose Drupal for its strong developer-community support. If we ever have a problem, there's a wide network of experts out there co help us, for free." ADMIRATION FOR web communications also comes easily for Redding. He's been captivated by computers since he was 10, when he got his first computer, a Tandy 1000 from Radio Shack. A job as a network administrator's assistant for the Beaverton-based tech company, SQLSofr, brought him at age 18 co Oregon from California. He paid his own way at PSU, earning degrees in accounting and finance, adding a new dimension co his web skills. In 2007, while living in China as an open-source consul– tant and technology manager, Redding began volunteering for the Drupal Association. When he returned co his Man– hattan apartment in 2010, he became its first paid executive director, continuing co foster the U.S. side of the previously all-volunteer nonprofit founded co support open-source developers. In October 2011, he moved the association co Portland. "This was the best move for the organization," says Red– ding. "Many people in Portland are working in open source, and that creates an environment for doing more business. Also, there's great access here co employees, insurance bro– kers, lawyers, and others who understand open source," adds Redding, who is single and wasn't keen on leaving his life in New York. Redding had moved co New York shortly after graduation from PSU, which couldn't be farther from his small-town Fowler, California, roots. Bue how could he refuse the PSU Business Accelerator's 2011 invitation to base the Drupal Association at the University? Portland Mayor Sam Adams and the city of Portland, one of Redding's clients, couldn't wait co tell the PSU Business School about him.