HPR3967: Unsolicited thoughts on running open source software projects

Some thoughts on the different ways you can run an open source software project, comparing projects like password-store, which are based on a mailing list and use a minimal forge platform, and others that are based on a fancy forge like Github.

I think the fancy forge gives the open source software project a vibe that we're more used to, in our capitalist society. It's a more centralized structure that feels more like a service that's being offered to the public, mostly in one direction. Meanwhile software projects that don't have a platform for creating road maps, issues, pull requests etc actually foster a stronger and more open community structure, rather counter-intuitively, because the software is free and everyone is able to contribute and modify the software for their own use, and they in fact do. The idea of a canonical version of the software is only a convenience, not a defining feature of it.

Let me know your thoughts on this.

Comments

More Information...