2025-08-27 Who is a “member” of your project? We often use the words “contributor” and “member” interchangeably in open source projects, but there are subtle differences between the two. Categories Posts
2025-08-20 Duplicate bug reports and how to handle them Duplicate bug reports waste time for everyone involved. You can reduce them by understanding the complicated dynamics. Categories Posts
2025-08-13 Who should enforce the code of conduct? There are valid reasons to involve outside experts in code of conduct enforcement, but it’s ultimately a leadership responsibility. Categories Posts
2025-07-30 It’s okay to stop doing things Don’t start something you’re not willing to do indefinitely, but it’s okay to stop. What used to be a good use of time may not be any longer. Categories Posts
2025-07-23 You can only expect the help you ask for People won’t know you need help unless you ask for it. Be specific about what you need and be prepare to help the helpers. Categories Posts
2025-07-02 Using AI moderation tools Use AI moderation tools to help human moderators, not to act on their own. Don’t take the humanity out of your community management. Categories Posts
2025-06-25 Your only obligations are the promises you make A recent policy change in libxml2 highlights the fact that project maintainers don’t have to do something just because it’s a good idea. Categories Posts
2025-06-04 The right tool is the one people can use If a tool is a means to an end (and it is!), then the right tool is the one that gets the job done. Even if it wasn’t intended for that purpose. Categories Posts
2025-05-28 It’s okay to be partial to your work It’s okay to be partial to — and promote — your own work, so long as you follow the community’s process. Categories Posts
2025-05-21 Growing your project means doing less coding You can’t hide from the reality of a growth in non-coding tasks. If you want to keep writing code, recruit others to take on the rest. Categories Posts