What advice would you like to give to someone planning to start his first open-source project?
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Top comments (5)
Late to the discussion but someone might find this helpful.
Know the problem you want to solve and have a concrete plan that won't only solve it well but will also solve it right. This, I believe, is what make a software have long-lasting impacts. The perceived value of your OSS is arguably what will entice contributors and give you the platform needed for growth.
Needless to say, make that plan public.
Late is better than never, thanks for your advice Bakunmi, it helps :)
A good README is a great way to start. There are lots of resources out there but I remember this post from the GitHub org from last Hacktoberfest:
How to Create the Perfect README for Your Open Source Project
Rizèl Scarlett for GitHub 㻠Nov 2 '21
Depending on the project more thorough docs are also a great way to go IMO. In order for someone to collaborate effectively they will need to easily understand how it works first.
Other than that I personally would write about it, share it and spread the word so people are able to find it online.
Good luck with your project if you have one in mind already!
Thanks for your advice Fernando. Yes, I have one in mind already, and Iβll share about it once I start working on it.
Scratch your own itch. If you like butterflies, create a web app that keeps track of butterflies, if you love music, create a music administration system, etc. This ensures you have fun, that you know what you're doing, and hence the result becomes better.
I started Magic because I had "an itch to scratch", and today it's an actual company, with 5 employees, we're funded, and a couple of days ago we launched on automatic onboarding system.
If you follow the above in your OSS project(s), it'll be something worth creating ...