Category: Posts

2023-05-24

Just because you write it, that doesn’t mean they’ll read it

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. What happens if you write all of those wonderful words and they don’t get read?

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2023-05-17

Are bug reporters contributors?

Whether they’re made by a contributor or not, bug reports are valuable contributions to your project. Treat them that way.

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2023-05-12

Use your tools, but write like you

We live in a time when we’re awash in tools (often free) that aid writing. You miss out when you don’t take advantage of these tools.

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2023-05-10

Keeping your bug tracker simple

Don’t try to make the perfect system from the beginning. Start with the basics. Solve problems after they become problems.

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2023-05-05

To grow an open source project, give up control

If the project structure shares leadership outside the company, it becomes more appealing to people outside the company.

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2023-05-03

Do release-blocking bugs have to be new?

If a bug existed in previous releases, should it block the upcoming release? There’s a case for “yes” and a case for “no”.

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2023-04-28

The solution isn’t interesting, the problem is

Nobody wants to use a computer. They want to get something done. Focusing on the problem instead of the solution gets you better results.

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2023-04-26

Little ways program managers add value

Some contributions aren’t a make-or-break moment, they’re a way to reduce the friction for contributors and make processes run smoother.

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2023-04-12

Embrace the non-judgmental “why?”

People don’t make bad decisions on purpose. If you understand why a decision was made in the past, you make better decisions for the future.

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2023-04-05

Footnotes and asides are a warning

Overuse of footnotes, commas, em dashes, and parentheses suggest your writing may be unclear. Keeping sentences focused helps your reader.

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