By Robin Ginn, Executive Director at the OpenJS Foundation
Since launching our Node.js professional certification program yesterday, we’ve received feedback and concerns around the pricing of these exams. As a foundation that exists to support open source projects, we aim to continually improve from community input. For those who have taken the time to offer up their suggestions, we really appreciate it.
We will continue to explore ways to make the Node.js certification program more open and accessible for diverse communities including a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds and geographical locations. We’re seeking to partner with community-focused organizations who can potentially bridge gaps and create access, of course pending the specific solution.
We are eager to collaborate with the community on the best solution and would invite anyone interested in providing further feedback on these initiatives to let us know by filling out this form or directly mentioning the OpenJS Foundation on Twitter.
The certifications focus on critical skills that Node.js developers need to build Node.js applications and services in professional environments; Certification is valid for three years with a renewal option
San Francisco – October 22, 2019 – The OpenJS Foundation, providing vendor-neutral support for sustained growth within the open source JavaScript community, today announced the OpenJS Node.js Application Developer (JSNAD) and OpenJS Node.js Services Developer (JSNSD) certification programs. The two certification programs are aimed at Node.js developers and are designed to demonstrate competence within the Node.js framework. The JSNAD and JSNSD certification programs, developed in partnership with NearForm and NodeSource, are available immediately.
“The OpenJS Node.js professional certification programs are designed to help developers demonstrate their Node.js proficiency in real-world environments and provide them with the knowledge to bring these technologies to their respective organizations,” said Robin Ginn, OpenJS Foundation Executive Director. “The exams provide a framework, developed by expert practitioners from the Node.js community, that illustrates the range of skills for experienced developers. We are excited to provide these certifications through the OpenJS Foundation as a clear, vendor-neutral way of showcasing key Node.js abilities.”
“As a leading telecommunication company serving millions of Canadian customers, a skilled technical talent pipeline is crucial to our continued success at TELUS,” said Luca Maraschi, Principal Architect at TELUS. “Given our role in the alpha testing of these certifications, we are confident that they will highlight the right skills of Node.js developers and we are excited to have these programs available to ensure our developer community continues to thrive.”
“The arrival of these exams is an exciting step for the OpenJS Foundation as it represents another way for us to support developers within the community,” said Todd Moore, OpenJS Foundation Board Chair. “We look forward to having these tests available on the market and for the diverse set of Node.js developers to take these exams, get certified and showcase their knowledge of this crucial technology.”
“The availability of certification is a big milestone for the Node.js project. We now have formal materials and exams available which will support the next wave of adoption of node.js in the enterprise,” said Cian Ó Maidín, NearForm CEO & Founder. “We’re proud of the work all of the partners have put into making this happen.”
“We are thrilled to see this important initiative come to life, and are proud to have been a part of creating this opportunity to enable developers to validate their skills with certification,” said Russ Whitman, CEO of NodeSource. “Backed by the Foundation, supported by NodeSource and key community members we hope this will advance Node.js adoption and the amazing products and services being developed. We couldn’t be more excited.”
OpenJS Node.js Application Developer (JSNAD)The OpenJS Node.js Application Developer certification is ideal for the Node.js developer with at least two years of experience working with Node.js. For more information and how to enroll: https://training.linuxfoundation.org/certification/jsnad/
OpenJS Node.js Services Developer (JSNSD) The OpenJS Node.js Services Developer certification is for the Node.js developer with at least two years of experience creating RESTful servers and services with Node.js. For more information and how to enroll: https://training.linuxfoundation.org/certification/jsnsd/
Both exams are two hours long, performance-based exams delivered via a browser-based terminal and each includes an automatic free retake (if needed). Exams are monitored by a live human proctor and are conducted online in English. Certification is valid for three years and includes a PDF Certificate and a digital badge. Corporate pricing for groups of five or more is available.
Supporting Quotes from Test Takers
Steve Toro, Software Engineer, Addigy Technology Great job on this exam! It definitely exposes the knowledge you’re missing from the core node.js packages. It’s not enough to use Node and Express for web development for this one.
Oleksandr Zhurbenko, Full Stack Developer, Scotiabank This is the first time I took the exam in the live coding format. Even though I didn’t have enough time to finish it, I still loved the process. I wish there were more exams like this. Great job!
Yerko Palma, Senior Developer, Chilena Consolidated This exam format is ideal, and all programming/tech exams should be set up this way. It provides for a much more accurate evaluation of people’s skills over any other format because it mirrors every-day tasks for node.js devs.
Luke Chinworth, Web Developer, Solid Digital I liked that the questions were directly related to real world tasks.
Vinicius Mussak, Microsoft MVP / Project Coordinator, SMN Technologies I very much like the real code, API construction, requests, because it reflects our day jobs in our companies.
Nathaniel Burgwyn, Beta Tester This feels really close to what I feel the exam should be. As a manager, I would feel confident in a candidate who possessed this certification.
About OpenJS Foundation The OpenJS Foundation is committed to supporting the healthy growth of the JavaScript ecosystem and web technologies by providing a neutral organization to host and sustain projects, as well as collaboratively fund activities for the benefit of the community at large. The OpenJS Foundation is made up of 32 open source JavaScript projects including Appium, Dojo, jQuery, Node.js, and webpack and is supported by 30 corporate and end-user members, including GoDaddy, Google, IBM, Intel, Joyent, and Microsoft. These members recognize the interconnected nature of the JavaScript ecosystem and the importance of providing a central home for projects which represent significant shared value.
AMP enters the open source foundation to broaden open governance, drive diverse, cross-industry adoption and continue improving the web for all.
NEW YORK– October 10, 2019 — The OpenJS Foundation, providing vendor-neutral support for sustained growth within the open source JavaScript community, announced today that the open source web component framework AMP will be joining the Foundation’s incubation program. The news was delivered at the AMP Contributor Summit 2019 in New York City.
“AMP is a great example of a community and technology focused on improving web performance and experience for all,” said Robin Ginn, Executive Director of the OpenJS Foundation, “On behalf of the Foundation, I am happy to welcome AMP and I look forward to seeing their progress to support a faster, open web.”
Now in its fourth year, AMP, a multi-stakeholder open source project initially backed by Google and used across a broad range of organizations, allows any publisher to have pages load quickly on mobile devices. Used in billions of pages on more than 30 million domains, AMP integrates with countless products and companies, including Google and Microsoft who each implement their own AMP Cache.
As a continuation of its adoption of an open governance model in late 2018, AMP’s cross-industry Technical Steering Committee agreed that the next step would be to submit an application for the project to join the OpenJS Foundation. This decision was further supported by its Advisory Committee representing constituencies from publishers, CDNs, browser vendors, open web advocates, and e-commerce and platform companies.
After completing the incubation process and officially joining the OpenJS Foundation, AMP will enable a wider variety of contributions from a wider audience, both technical and strategic. Additionally, a move to the OpenJS Foundation aims to develop and showcase the entirety of AMP’s benefits and capabilities, outside of the advantages to publishers.
“Now in our fourth year, AMP is excited for the next step on our journey,” said Malte Ubl, Member of the AMP Project Technical Steering Committee. “We’ve been considering the best home for AMP for some time. We decided on the OpenJS Foundation because we feel it’s the best place for us to help us to cater to our diverse group of constituencies. This step builds on previous moves we’ve made toward open governance and helps us focus on transparency and openness.”
“As a Platinum member of the OpenJS Foundation and huge proponent for thriving open-source communities, we are thrilled to see AMP take this step with the Foundation,” said Myles Borins, Developer Advocate for Google and OpenJS Foundation Board Vice Chairperson.“The opportunity to improve the web is vast, and AMP has a role to play in that. We see no better place for AMP to accomplish these goals than with the OpenJS Foundation.”
“As an AMP contributor and framework user having integrated AMP into different products including owning our own AMP Cache, we fully support and encourage this move,” said Saulo Santos, Engineering Manager, Bing Experiences, Microsoft. “AMP is helping to improve the web, and entering it into the Foundation will only be a continuation of these efforts.”
About OpenJS Foundation
The OpenJS Foundation is committed to supporting the healthy growth of the JavaScript ecosystem and web technologies by providing a neutral organization to host and sustain projects, as well as collaboratively fund activities for the benefit of the community at large. The OpenJS Foundation is made up of 32 open source JavaScript projects including Appium, Dojo, jQuery, Node.js, and webpack and is supported by 30 corporate and end-user members, including GoDaddy, Google, IBM, Intel, Joyent, and Microsoft. These members recognize the interconnected nature of the JavaScript ecosystem and the importance of providing a central home for projects which represent significant shared value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is AMP joining the OpenJS Foundation?
AMP has been taking very thoughtful steps to ensure its long-term commitment to its vision (A strong, user-first open web forever) and mission (Provide a user-first format for web content, supporting the long-term success of every web publisher, merchant, and advertiser).
In 2018, after community concerns around its ties to Google as well as concerns around scaling the project, AMP adopted an open governance model that is mirrored after the Node.js Foundation and JS Foundation. They adopted this model to scale as well as to give a voice to all constituents of the community, including those who cannot contribute code themselves, such as end-users.
How will joining the Foundation solve some of the past issues pertaining to governance AMP has faced and currently faces?
The OpenJS Foundation prides itself on vendor neutrality. Our vested interest resides solely in the ecosystem and the projects that contribute to that ecosystem. The OpenJS Foundation’s Cross Project Council is committed to supporting AMP in addressing these issues and ensure continued progress. During onboarding, AMP will also go through a multi-step process including adopting the OpenJS Foundation Code of Conduct, transferring domains and trademarks and more to graduation from incubation. AMP has made incredible strides by adopting a new governance model and by joining the OpenJS Foundation, they’ve made their intentions clear-AMP is committed to its vision of “A strong, user-first open web forever.”
Currently, the AMP runtime is hosted on the same infrastructure as the Google AMP Cache. Doesn’t this present serious issues?
The end goal is to separate the AMP runtime from the Google AMP Cache. The Project is currently in the incubating stage and Project leaders are still determining the next steps. Ideally, hosting and deployment of the AMP runtime to the CDN would fall under the purview of the OpenJS Foundation, much like the foundation is handling other projects CDNs, such as the jQuery CDN.
Untangling the runtime from the cache is a complex endeavor requiring significant investments of time and effort which would be planned and implemented in collaboration with the foundation and industry stakeholders during and after incubation.
The OpenJS Foundation CPC is committed to having a long-term strategy in place to address this issue by the end of AMP’s incubation.
How will AMP joining the Foundation address the lack of contributor diversity/inclusion? Currently, only past or current Google employees have commit rights.
AMP has taken key steps to guide how decisions are made in a more open and transparent way. The first step was to adopt a new governance model represented by multiple stakeholders. By joining the Foundation, which is a vendor neutral organization, AMP will be able to continue down this path. One of the reasons AMP is joining the Foundation is so they can have more of an inclusive contributor base. The Cross Project Council and AMP will be working on this together.
Former Microsoft executive to take the helm of recently merged foundation to accelerate the next phase of JavaScript ecosystem growth
SAN FRANCISCO–September 25, 2019 — The OpenJS Foundation, providing vendor-neutral support for sustained growth within the open source JavaScript community, today announced Robin Ginn, a longtime executive at Microsoft, is joining as its Executive Director. The OpenJS Foundation, formed in March of 2019 by the merger of the JS Foundation and the Node.js Foundation, is the neutral home for more than 30 open source projects and aims to drive broad adoption and ongoing development of key JavaScript solutions and related technologies.
Robin Ginn, OpenJS Foundation Executive Director
“I’m honored to represent the OpenJS Foundation because developers and the communities that support open source projects have long been my heroes,” said Robin Ginn, OpenJS Foundation Executive Director. “JavaScript, with its vast developer base and engaged community, has all the right ingredients to grow and flourish. I’m excited to jump in and start working to support the future of this valued and necessary ecosystem.”
Ginn joins The Linux Foundation and the OpenJS Foundation from Microsoft, where she led many key open source initiatives. While there, she co-founded @OpenAtMicrosoft and was instrumental in Microsoft’s contribution and involvement in the Node.js project.
As early as 2012 at Microsoft, Robin was a technical evangelist engaging with the Node.js community about new opportunities with Microsoft Azure through blogs, hackathons, and more. She helped shape Microsoft’s position for co-founding the Node.js Advisory Board in 2014 – the entity that preceded the formation of the Node.js Foundation with the Linux Foundation in 2015. She served on the marketing committee for the Node.js Foundation from its start, including hosting Node.js on the Road in China.
Most recently, Ginn led marketing and communications at Healthcare NExT, an AI-focused healthcare incubator in Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence & Research division. Ginn was a driving force behind go-to-market strategies that introduced commercial AI and machine learning projects, and she worked across the industry to advance health data standards through open source projects.
During her tenure at Microsoft, Ginn led strategic business and marketing initiatives for Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc., Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft’s Developer Division.
“After a thorough search process, the OpenJS Foundation board is pleased to welcome Robin to lead the next phase of the Foundation and support the ever-growing JavaScript community,” said Todd Moore, OpenJS Foundation Board Chairperson. “Robin is no stranger to the community and helped us launch the original foundation. Her stellar track record, diverse mix of skills and second-to-none leadership will serve the Foundation, its members and the entire community well. This, combined with her deep industry knowledge and business acumen, makes Robin uniquely qualified to lead the Foundation successfully into the future.”
“As chairperson of the Cross Project Council (CPC), I look forward to partnering with Robin to drive progress for the CPC, the community, the ecosystem, and the Foundation,” said Joe Sepi, the community-elected OpenJS Foundation CPC Chair. “Ultimately, we are aiming to grow a healthy environment for our more than 30 projects, and as our momentum builds, I’m excited to work with Robin on valuable programs and processes for the benefit of our hosted projects.”
About OpenJS Foundation
The OpenJS Foundation is committed to supporting the healthy growth of the JavaScript ecosystem and web technologies by providing a neutral organization to host and sustain projects, as well as collaboratively fund activities for the benefit of the community at large. The OpenJS Foundation is made up of 32 open source JavaScript projects including Appium, Dojo, jQuery, Node.js, and webpack and is supported by 30 corporate and end-user members, including GoDaddy, Google, IBM, Intel, Joyent, and Microsoft. These members recognize the interconnected nature of the JavaScript ecosystem and the importance of providing a central home for projects which represent significant shared value.
