Peritus.AI is building a knowledge network for developer self-service as you work, from experts you trust. The platform is built on top of cloud-native technologies running on the public cloud. As end-users of cloud-native technologies, we have experienced the joys of using open source software, and the complexity involved in navigating a constantly evolving landscape. In this conversation, we discuss the challenges of choosing and adopting early-stage open source technologies that require a high degree of skill. As the software matures and the proverbial chasm is crossed, a wider audience with a varied skill set benefits from the feedback of the early adopters. How do we close this gap rapidly and cross the chasm sooner?