Keynote - The Art and Science of Tending Open Source Orchards [PyCon DE & PyData Berlin 2024]

The success of open source projects depends more on community and culture than just code quality alone

Early decisions around governance, licensing, and policies are crucial for healthy project growth

Documentation is essential and should come in multiple formats (tutorials, guidelines, videos) to support users and contributors

Contributor retention requires:

• Timely responses and thoughtful code reviews
• Recognition of all types of contributions (not just code)
• Creating a welcoming and psychologically safe environment
• Supporting professional development opportunities

Projects need contributors with diverse skills beyond coding (design, writing, community building, etc.)

Sprints and community events are valuable for:

• Connecting with users
• Onboarding new contributors
• Building relationships
• Knowledge sharing

Automation should be used strategically to:

• Reduce repetitive tasks
• Maintain code quality (linters)
• Free up time for meaningful human interactions
• Not replace important personal communications

Leadership considerations:

• Plan for succession and rotation
• Maintain transparency in decision-making
• Handle strong personalities diplomatically
• Accept some level of chaos and volunteer churn

Newcomer support requires:

• Clear documentation
• Mentorship
• Good first issues
• Recognition of the learning curve

Building trust with contributors is essential, especially after security incidents, requiring clear communication and community-oriented governance