How to Open Source Your ... Whatever

Dr Marcus Baw

Here have some code

img/throw-over-wall.png

rule#0

want to open source your project

rule#1

build a community around your code

listen to your community

talk to your community

https://meta.discourse.org/ img/discourse-meta.png

rule#2

relax, you still own your code

now choose a license

img/copyright.png img/copyleft.png img/opensource.png

rule#3

use modern version control

img/git.jpeg

rule#4

be able to accept an external code contribution

img/bitbucket.jpeg img/github.jpeg img/gitlab.jpeg

rule#5

write Documentation that you can be proud of

rule#6

#devops - make it easy for someone to deploy your code - without your help

commoditise your project

rule#7

be plugin-able

that way you don't need to develop everything that every user wants

plugin API - REST API - SDK - submodules - whatever suits

rule#8

talk about your project

conferences, podcasts, blogs, articles, news sites, hackernews

rule#9

provide services

you are no longer a seller of code, you're a service provider

rule#10

embrace competition

you're not the only fish in a tiny pond any more

you're one of several fish in a MUCH BIGGER POND

rule#11

be very, very smug

at all times

because you are part of the future

EOF