cultivating an open-source community

Cultivating

an open-source community

Exc

uses

} I’m not good enough.”

Exc

uses

} I’m not good enough.”

You don’t need to write any

code.

Projects need documentation, design,

proofreading, maintenance,

translation.

RailsAdmin

68 contributors

RailsAdmin

1 very special contributor

“Make copy edits”

Activo

David Francisco

Exc

uses

} I’ll make a mistake.”

Exc

uses

} I’ll make a mistake.”

Here’s what will happen:

1. You’ll learn something.

Exc

uses

} I’ll make a mistake.”

Here’s what will happen:

1. You’ll learn something.

2. git revert

git log -p --grep oops

Exc

uses

} I don’t have time.”

Exc

uses

} I don’t have time.” Do it at work!

Exc

uses

} It will hurt business.”

Exc

uses

} It will hurt business.” AT&T

Apple Facebook Google

IBM HP

Oracle Twitter

Yahoo!

Exc

uses

} It will hurt business.” It helps a lot with recruiting.

Exc

uses

} I don’t know how.”

Exc

uses

} I don’t know how.” Ask.

Exc

uses

} I don’t know how.” Ask.

Google

Exc

uses

} I don’t know how.” Ask.

Google StackOverflow

Exc

uses

} I don’t know how.” Ask.

Google StackOverflow Mailing list

Exc

uses

} I don’t know how.” Ask.

Google StackOverflow Mailing list IRC

Exc

uses

} I don’t know how.” Ask.

Google StackOverflow Mailing list IRC

email

STOP Making Excuses

Cul

tivat

ing

Choose a good name

Cul

tivat

ing

Have a clear roadmap

Cul

tivat

ing

100% test coverage

RailsAdmin CI

Cul

tivat

ing

Code review

Cul

tivat

ing

Documentation

Cul

tivat

ing

Use pictures and videos

Cul

tivat

ing

Show examples

Cul

tivat

ing

State your quirks

In every README

Cul

tivat

ing

Pick a good license

Cul

tivat

ing

Mailing list

Cul

tivat

ing

IRC channel

Cul

tivat

ing

Host bugmashes

Cul

tivat

ing

Never say RTFM/RTFC

Cul

tivat

ing

Make decisions in public

Cul

tivat

ing

Don’t leave people hanging

Cul

tivat

ing

Give credit

Cul

tivat

ing

Ask for help

Twitter gem

@sferik

On GitHub, Twitter, Gmail, IRC,

etc.