Author: Ben Cotton

2024-12-18

Moderation queues need context

Many tools lack a good way for moderators to indicate “this message is still in the queue on purpose.”

Categories Posts

2024-12-11

The real problem with end-of-life software

The problem with end-of-life software isn’t the lack of vulnerability and bug fixes. It’s knowing when software is truly end-of-life.

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2024-12-04

The best way to make a decision is to decide

In most cases, a good decision made quickly is better than a great decision made slowly.

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2024-11-27

Innovation Happens Elsewhere: now in a portable form

I’ve republished Innovation Happens Elsewhere in epub and PDF forms.

Categories News/Resources

2024-11-20

ccTLDs are bad for your project

Using a ccTLD puts your project’s infrastructure at the whims of geopolitics. There are plenty of other TLDs to choose from.

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2024-11-13

Communities aren’t an accidental collection of strangers with a common interest

Community implies a degree of commitment to stick around, and the bonds of friendship can make the project a more enjoyable place to be.

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2024-10-09

Open source is not consent for experiments

You can do whatever you want with the code you download. But once you’re writing instead of reading, you need to be a good participant.

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2024-10-02

Building a community still means giving up control

Reddit’s new rules protect short-term value, but creating a community that’s sustainable in the long term still means giving up control.

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2024-09-25

Code style guides are for cooperation, not preferences

If you’re leading a project, document your style. If you’re joining a project, set your style preferences aside.

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2024-09-18

It’s okay to not do things

Just because you had the idea to do something, that doesn’t mean you’re obligated to do it. Some tasks can be skipped or delayed.

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