How to grow a healthy Open-Source community?

Twitter Spaces fireside chat as we discuss growing healthy open-source communities with Brian Douglas, Developer Advocate at GitHub.

Video

Summary:

• Structuring the project with promotion paths

• Hierarchy of advancement in open source projects

• Holding yourself accountable for the communities and making sure you start initiatives to stay interested.

• Setting clear paths for learning and advancement.

• Establishing your intentions, boundaries, and interests — and communicating that (or being open to hearing this is so important!

Scribbles:

Characteristics of a good open-source community...

• structure

• knowing who to talk to

• documentation

• steps how to contribute

• the architecture

• structuring the project with promotion paths

Ladder Model for Open Source

• hierarchy of advancement in open source projects

• allows for buying and learning

• setting clear paths for learning and advancement

Share your work with the community, do not hide behind your code and work.

• Have your readme at the bare minimum. Make it easier for the newbies!

• Holding yourself accountable for the communities and making sure you start initiatives to stay interested.

• Make sure your community shares the same goal as you.

• Not accepting contributions in open-source == respectfully drawing a line about how much and what kind of engagement you want from the community,

• Documentation (blog posts, guides, etc) and paying attention to the little details including down to social cards is super helpful especially in telling stories and intention.

Tackling imposter syndrome...?

Here's how Brian approaches impostor syndrome and making open source accessible -

• Intentionally you're going to have a solution written in the issue, provide an easy win.

• Providing mentorship and help.

• Giving credit where you can.