Building Strong and Sustainable Open Source Projects: Lessons from an Epic Road Trip

Building Strong and Sustainable Open Source Projects: Lessons from an Epic Road Trip

Photo by Luke Southern on Unsplash

The story of our road trip to Vancouver may seem like an unusual starting point for discussing building solid and sustainable open-source communities, but bear with me for a moment.

Like our road trip, building an open-source community can be full of surprises, new friends, and life lessons. It can be an adventure worth taking, even if you don’t have all the necessary resources and experience when you begin.

Let’s look at how our road trip experience can be applied to building an open-source community.

As the story above illustrates, sometimes the most memorable experiences come from surprises and taking risks. This same sentiment can apply to building and sustaining open source Projects. This talk will explore the lessons we can learn from our epic road trip and use them to build solid and sustainable open-source communities. By community, I mean that each individual open-source project is its own micro-community.

1. Start with a clear purpose and vision:

• In the story, We embarked on a road trip to Vancouver, BC. Our purpose and vision were to explore new places, have new experiences, and have fun. We wanted to take a break from our internships and enjoy a journey filled with surprises, new friends, and life lessons. Although we faced incredible challenges, such as needing more funds, we did not let this deter us from our purpose and vision. Instead, we remained open to new experiences and took risks, leading to a memorable and rewarding journey.
• To build a successful open-source project, having a clear purpose and vision is important. This helps to ensure that everyone involved understands the goals and objectives of the project, which can help to guide decision-making and keep everyone focused.

2. Embrace Openness and Diversity

• On the road trip, we met new friends from all walks of life. These unexpected encounters enriched their journey and made it all the more memorable. In the same way, open-source communities thrive on diversity and inclusivity. By embracing openness and welcoming contributors from all backgrounds, communities can foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. When people from different backgrounds work towards a common goal, they bring unique perspectives and ideas to the table, leading to more creative and innovative solutions.

3. Be Open to Unexpected Surprises

• During our road trip, Jacob and I encountered surprises at every turn. From running into my family on the outskirts of Eureka to crashing a party and making new friends, we never knew what would happen next. The same can be true for open-source communities. Communities can grow and evolve in ways they never imagined by being open to unexpected surprises, such as new contributors, ideas, and issues. This willingness to embrace the unknown can lead to exciting and innovative developments within the community.

4. Learn From Failure and Keep Pushing Forward

• The road trip started differently than planned. We were low on funds and had to adjust our plans accordingly. However, we did not give up and kept pushing forward. This same resilience can be applied to open-source communities. Only some projects will be successful, and there will be setbacks along the way. However, it is crucial to learn from these failures and keep pushing forward. Open-source communities can weather any storm by staying focused on the project’s goals and remaining resilient.

5. Celebrate Success Together

• At the end of the road trip, Jacob and I celebrated with our new friends by buying $1000 worth of drinks for the entire bar. This celebration brought everyone together and highlighted the importance of celebrating success as a community. In open-source communities, it is crucial to celebrate successes together, whether it’s launching a new project, achieving a significant milestone, or simply welcoming new contributors. By recognizing and celebrating these accomplishments, communities can foster a sense of shared ownership and pride in their achievements.

Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

6. Be Willing to Take Risks

• Jacob and I didn’t let our lack of funds stop us from going on our road trip. We took a risk and hit the road anyway. Similarly, building an open-source community requires taking risks. Initially, you might not have all the answers or resources, but that’s okay. Be willing to take calculated risks,

7. Keep Pushing Forward

• Jacob and I experienced setbacks on our road trip, such as running low on funds and having to turn back. However, we didn’t give up. We kept pushing forward and were rewarded with surprises. Building an open-source community requires perseverance as well. You might encounter setbacks, such as a lack of interest or participation, but don’t give up. Keep pushing forward and stay committed to your mission.

8. Embrace the Power of Positivity

• Our positive attitude and willingness to embrace surprises were the keys to our road trip success. We didn’t let setbacks or lack of funds get them down. We embraced the journey and ended up having a fantastic time. Building an open-source community requires a similar attitude. Embrace positivity, and let it guide you as you build relationships, overcome obstacles, and achieve your goals

9. Learn from failures:

• Our road trip was not without its disappointments and setbacks. However, they used these experiences as opportunities for growth and learning. In the same way, open-source communities should embrace failure as a natural part of the learning process. Learning from mistakes and failures can help communities identify areas for improvement and build resilience.

Photo by Manuel Cortina on Unsplash

Do’s:

1. Build a strong governance model: A robust governance model can help to ensure that the project is managed effectively and that decisions are made transparently and democratically. This can build trust among contributors and ensure that the project remains sustainable over the long term.
2. Encourage collaboration and communication: Collaboration and communication are critical to the success of any open-source project. By creating spaces for discussion and collaboration, such as mailing lists, forums, and chat rooms, projects can foster a culture of collaboration and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
3. Provide clear documentation and support: Clear documentation and support are essential for ensuring that new contributors can get up to speed quickly and that existing contributors have the resources they need to be successful. This can include things like tutorials, user guides, and developer documentation. The quality of the code and documentation is crucial to the success of an open-source project. A well-documented and well-written codebase can attract new contributors, help maintainers to identify and fix issues quickly and make the project more accessible to users.
4. Keep an Active and engaged community: Building an active and engaged community is essential to the success of an open source project. This involves creating a welcoming environment where contributors feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute. Encouraging collaboration and recognizing contributions can help build a strong community and maintain motivation.
5. Reduce burnout of contributors and maintainers by breaking up core contributors and maintainers’ workload into semesters and allow people to opt into different roles during each semester, or they can take a semester off to recharge. Like in the story, Jacob and I took the time to travel after a long summer of work.

Photo by Randy Laybourne on Unsplash

Don’ts:

1. Don’t ignore user feedback: Users are the ultimate beneficiaries of your project, so it is essential to listen to their feedback and incorporate it into your project’s development.
2. Don’t be too restrictive: Avoid creating too many rules and requirements for contributions, as this can discourage potential contributors and limit the growth of your community.
3. Don’t neglect your community: Building a solid, sustainable open-source project requires an engaged and active community. Neglecting your community can lead to a decline in contributions and a loss of momentum.
4. Don’t forget to plan for sustainability: A successful open-source project requires long-term sustainability and funding. Plan for how your project will be funded and sustained over time.
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment: Open-source projects thrive on experimentation and innovation. Don’t be scared to try new ideas or technologies to improve your project.

In conclusion, the story of our epic road trip offers valuable lessons for building solid and sustainable open-source communities. By embracing openness and diversity, being open to surprises, learning from failure and pushing forward, and celebrating successes together, communities can thrive and evolve in exciting new ways. So, the next time you build an open-source community, remember the lessons from this epic road trip and embrace the journey ahead. Who knows what fantastic things might be waiting just around the corner?