9.9 million lines of code and still moving fast – Facebook open source in 2014

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Overview

In the first half of 2014, Facebook's open source program experienced significant growth, launching 64 new projects and increasing its codebase to 9.9 million lines of code. The article highlights community engagement, key projects, and advancements in mobile and web development technologies.

What You'll Learn

1

How to leverage open source projects to enhance mobile app development

2

Why community contributions are vital for the success of open source projects

3

How to implement performance optimizations using HHVM and Hack

Key Questions Answered

What are the key highlights of Facebook's open source program in 2014?
In 2014, Facebook launched 64 new projects, bringing its total to 200 repositories. The codebase grew to 9.9 million lines, with 13,000 commits, and community contributions increased significantly, with 25% of commits coming from external contributors.
How has community participation changed in Facebook's open source projects?
Community participation has surged, with projects being forked 20,000 times and accumulating 95,000 followers. Notably, external contributions now account for 25% of all commits, up from 15% the previous year.
What new technologies did Facebook introduce for mobile development?
Facebook introduced several technologies for mobile development, including KVOController for thread-safe key-value observing, Shimmer for loading indicators, and Pop, an animation library that has gained significant popularity.
What is the significance of the HHVM and Hack programming language?
HHVM is Facebook's high-performance virtual machine that supports a variety of frameworks. The Hack programming language, introduced in 2014, offers gradual typing and modern features, reflecting Facebook's commitment to improving its codebase.

Key Statistics & Figures

Total lines of code
9.9 million
The total size of Facebook's open source codebase as of mid-2014.
Total commits
13,000
The number of commits made to Facebook's open source repositories in the first half of 2014, reflecting a 45% increase from the previous period.
Community contributions
25%
The percentage of commits from external contributors, up from 15% the previous year.

Technologies & Tools

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Backend
Hhvm
A high-performance virtual machine that powers Facebook's applications.
Programming Language
Hack
A language designed for HHVM that features gradual typing and modern programming constructs.
Frontend
React
A JavaScript library for building user interfaces, emphasizing a reactive programming model.
Mobile Library
Kvocontroller
A library for thread-safe key-value observing in iOS applications.
Mobile Library
Shimmer
A library for creating unobtrusive loading indicators in mobile applications.
Mobile Library
Pop
An animation library for iOS and OS X, used for creating fluid animations.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Engage with community contributions to enhance project quality and reach.
By encouraging external developers to contribute, projects can benefit from diverse perspectives and expertise, leading to more robust and innovative solutions.
2
Utilize Facebook's open source libraries to accelerate mobile app development.
Libraries like KVOController and Shimmer can save time and effort in app development, allowing developers to focus on core functionalities while leveraging proven tools.
3
Adopt HHVM and Hack for improved performance in PHP applications.
Switching to HHVM can enhance execution speed and compatibility with major frameworks, while Hack's features can streamline development processes.

Common Pitfalls

1
Neglecting community engagement can stifle project growth.
Without active participation from the community, projects may lack diverse input and innovation, leading to stagnation.
2
Overlooking the importance of performance optimization.
Failing to utilize tools like HHVM and Hack can result in slower application performance, which can affect user experience and scalability.

Related Concepts

Open Source Software Development
Community Contributions In Software Projects
Performance Optimization Techniques