What are the best practices for managing open source software contributions?

1 Choose a license

One of the first steps to managing OSS contributions is to choose a license for your project. A license defines the terms and conditions under which others can use, modify, and distribute your software. There are different types of licenses, ranging from permissive (such as MIT or Apache) to restrictive (such as GPL or AGPL), depending on how much control you want to have over your code and its derivatives. Choosing a license can help you protect your rights, avoid legal issues, and communicate your expectations to potential contributors.

2 Write clear documentation

Another key step to managing OSS contributions is to write clear and comprehensive documentation for your project. Documentation can include information such as the project's purpose, features, installation, usage, dependencies, testing, roadmap, code of conduct, and contribution guidelines. Documentation can help you attract and onboard contributors, facilitate collaboration, reduce confusion and errors, and improve the usability and maintainability of your software. You can use tools such as Markdown, Sphinx, or Jekyll to create and host your documentation online.

3 Use version control and branching

A third best practice for managing OSS contributions is to use version control and branching for your code. Version control is a system that tracks the changes and history of your code, allowing you to revert, merge, or compare different versions. Branching is a technique that creates separate copies of your code for different purposes, such as development, testing, or deployment. Using version control and branching can help you organize and manage your code, collaborate with other contributors, avoid conflicts and bugs, and ensure the stability and quality of your software. You can use tools such as Git, GitHub, or GitLab to implement version control and branching.

4 Review and test contributions

A fourth best practice for managing OSS contributions is to review and test the code that others submit to your project. Reviewing and testing contributions can help you ensure that the code meets your standards, follows your guidelines, works as expected, and does not introduce any errors or vulnerabilities. You can use tools such as code reviews, pull requests, code linters, unit tests, integration tests, or continuous integration to review and test contributions. You can also provide constructive feedback, suggestions, and appreciation to the contributors to improve their skills and motivation.

5 Communicate and engage

A fifth best practice for managing OSS contributions is to communicate and engage with your contributors and users. Communication and engagement can help you build a community around your project, solicit feedback and ideas, resolve issues and disputes, acknowledge contributions and achievements, and foster a positive and inclusive culture. You can use tools such as email, chat, forums, blogs, podcasts, or social media to communicate and engage with your audience. You can also participate in events such as hackathons, meetups, or conferences to showcase your project and network with other OSS enthusiasts.

6 Learn and improve

A sixth and final best practice for managing OSS contributions is to learn and improve from your experience and feedback. Learning and improving can help you enhance your skills, knowledge, and reputation as a software developer, as well as the quality, functionality, and impact of your software. You can learn and improve by reading books, articles, or tutorials, taking courses or workshops, joining communities or networks, or seeking mentors or peers. You can also measure and evaluate your project's performance, user satisfaction, and social value, and use the insights to make informed decisions and adjustments.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?