Human and Bot Interactions in Open Source Discussion Spaces: Case Study of Kubernetes Bots in Issue Forums

Authors

Lale Madahali, Iowa State UniversityFollow
Nicole B. Damen, University of Nebraska OmahaFollow
Holly K. Rosser, University of Nebraska OmahaFollow
Kevin Lumbard, Creighton UniversityFollow

Abstract

To understand how bots change open source design activity, this study employed digital trace ethnography on the Kubernetes project to explore themes that describe open source design activity related to the adoption of bots: assigning tasks, labeling issues, recommending labels, and opening and closing issues. Our findings contribute to a greater understanding of how human- bot collaboration affects design activity within open source discussion spaces.

Recommended Citation

Madahali, Lale; Damen, Nicole B.; Rosser, Holly K.; and Lumbard, Kevin, "Human and Bot Interactions in Open Source Discussion Spaces: Case Study of Kubernetes Bots in Issue Forums" (2025). MWAIS 2025 Proceedings. 38.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/mwais2025/38