The Social Code: Building a PostgreSQL Community Wired for Belonging

Why Do We Stick Around? The Neuroscience of Open Source Community.

The next chapter in the "Decode" series. From the author of Decode PostgreSQL: Understanding the World's Most Powerful Open-Source Database Without Writing Code

Get the eBook: Free or Pay What You Want!

What If You Could Decipher the Social Code? The Neuroscience of Open Source Community.

You've learned to decode the database. Now, let's decode the people who build it.

The future of PostgreSQL isn't just about faster queries or better features—it's about people. Specifically, it's about our social code.

This 10-page ebook, adapted from a featured conference talk, dives into the neuroscience and psychology of the PostgreSQL community using original survey data from the core contributor base.

No neuroscience jargon, no sociology textbook required—just clarity. This book gives you the human literacy you need to collaborate more effectively and build a more powerful community.

What You Will Learn:

• The Science of Social Pain: Discover why 4 out of 10 experienced contributors felt social pain during their first community interaction, and how exclusion activates the same brain region as physical pain.
• The "Iceberg of Barriers": Understand that the biggest barrier to contribution isn't time, but hidden fears like "fear of making mistakes" and "feeling intimidated by experts."
• The Mirror Neuron Effect: Learn how your interactions—good or bad—are immediately mirrored and replicated throughout the community, defining the unwritten rules for newcomers.
• The Micro-Inclusion Toolkit: Get a simple, actionable list of 7 micro-actions (like "Reference Their Work" and "Thank Them Publicly") that you can use immediately to boost Psychological Safety and drive contribution.
• The Community's Clear Mandate: See the community's explicit request for clearer contribution paths, more mentorship, and less tolerance for toxic behavior.

My Goal: A More Welcoming PostgreSQL.

I believe this insight should be available to everyone who wants to use it. That's why I'm offering this ebook as Free or Pay What You Want.

If you found the ideas valuable, your contribution helps support the ongoing research. I plan to expand on the survey and present new findings in the coming year, and every bit of support helps turn that plan into a reality.

Download your copy now and let's build a community that is as resilient as its database.

Published by Ellyne Phneah, Version 1.0 (October 2025)