How New Open Source Projects Gain Momentum and Recruit Contributors

Starting a new open source project is an exciting endeavor, but ensuring its success requires more than just the initial idea. Just like any ambitious venture, a new open source project must establish a solid foundation and strategically engage with its potential audience and contributors. In this article, we explore the strategies and steps behind the growth and development of Kiwi TCMS, a test case management system that initially faced challenges but successfully gained momentum and developed a dedicated community of contributors.

Initial Challenges and Development

Open source projects often start with a specific need or problem. For Kiwi TCMS, the initial impetus was driven by the need for an advanced test case management system. Red Hat specifically developed Nitrate to address their internal requirements, leveraging their own expertise to create a robust solution. However, like many open source projects, Nitrate struggled to gain traction in the broader community after its initial internal development phase. For several years, the project languished, with little external contribution or development progress.

Rescue and Relaunch

In 2016, the project was resurrected when a developer named the author of this article began using Nitrate for a client project. Faced with the need for custom features and bug fixes, the developer started making changes to the project. The issues directly upstream were slow to address, and the pull requests remained unmerged for several years. This experience highlighted the importance of having an active community and responsive maintainers.

Determined to bring Nitrate to life, the developer decided to rebrand and relaunch the project under a new name, Kiwi TCMS. The rebranding not only attracted new contributors but also attracted potential users looking for a more modern and feature-rich test case management system.

Building a Strong Community

The transition to Kiwi TCMS involved a complete rebranding of the name, logo, and overall project identity. This change was aimed at creating a fresh start and attracting a new audience. The developer reached out to younger developers to help with website development, fostering the growth of a new community.

The journey to building a community involved several key steps:

Website Relaunch: A new website was created to showcase the project and make it more accessible to potential contributors and users. Marketing: The project began to promote itself through various channels, including social media, conferences, and newsletters, to increase visibility and attract more users. Contributor Engagement: The developer took a hands-on approach to recruiting contributors by teaching and guiding them through tasks, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

With the website now online, the project benefited from increased exposure and attracted more users. This was a crucial step in gaining credibility and building a user base.

Growing the Project

As the Kiwi TCMS project gained momentum, several key steps were taken to ensure its long-term success:

Technical Improvements: The project was updated to the latest version of Django and Python, enhancing both its stability and capabilities. Docker Integration: The project developed comprehensive Docker images, making it easier for users to deploy and run the system. Publishing: Regular updates and releases were made, accompanied by detailed changelogs and documentation to keep the community informed. Conferences and Events: The project participated in various conferences and events, including those in Bulgaria, Albania, and the Czech Republic, to increase brand awareness and attract new contributors.

The project also focused on fostering a supportive community, which helped in recruiting and retaining new contributors. As the project gained traction, more developers joined, bringing in new ideas and expertise, which further strengthened the project.

Ensuring Future Success

As the project continued to grow, several measures were taken to ensure its long-term success:

Financial Sustainability: The project began to explore ways to make it financially sustainable, such as through patronage and hosting arrangements. Beyond the Initial Core Team: The project expanded its team, bringing in more developers, interns, and even coaching them to take on more significant responsibilities. User Engagement and Feedback: The project established clear communication channels with users, including a StackOverflow tag, to ensure that user feedback was consistently collected and acted upon.

The journey of Kiwi TCMS from a legacy project to a thriving open source community demonstrates the importance of persistence, strategic planning, and community building. These lessons can be applied to any open source project seeking to gain momentum and attract contributors.

Keywords: Open source projects, project momentum, contributor recruitment