Hanna Wallach

URL: https://dirichlet.net
Email: hanna@join-the-dots.org

How long have you been using Debian?

Since April 1999

Are you a Debian Developer?

Not yet; I plan to enter the New Maintainer process within the next couple of months, however.

What areas of Debian are you involved in?

My primary contribution to the Debian project is packaging. I currently co-maintain one package and have just filed an ITP (Intent to Package) for another.
I also take an active role in couraging others to use Debian. I believe that one of the most important ways to support the growth of a project like Debian is to encourage people to find out more and, if interested, get involved. Over the past few years, I have initiated both formal and informal discussions about Debian with a variety of individuals, and helped run several Debian installfests.

What got you interested in working with Debian?

Debian has one of the most active and interesting developer communities of any Linux distribution - it was this that originally drew me to the project.

Do you have any tips for women interested in getting more involved with Debian?

Think about what you'd like to contribute to Debian, and what you hope to gain from your involvement. On a more practical level, help fix bugs, take over orphaned packages, check the WNPP (Work-Needing and Prospective Packages) regularly, and do read the Debian mailing lists - they're all a great way to learn more about the Debian community and ethos.

Are you involved with any other women in technology group? Which one(s)?

I'm part of the Women@CL project, a Cambridge-based initiative that provides local, national and international activities for women engaged in computing research and academic leadership. I'm also a member of CISters, an informal group of graduate women in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Computer and Information Science.

A bit more about you...

I got my BA from the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, after transferring into the Computer Science Tripos from Engineering during my second year. Since then, I've completed an MSc at the University of Edinburgh, where I specialised in neural computing and learning from data, and have started a PhD in Cambridge's Inference Group. When not working on my PhD, I spend an inordinate amount of time drinking coffee, playing with computers, contributing to the Debian project, and updating my blog.