Pitfalls of a Popular Project

Who am I?

• Dougal Campbell• WordPress “Developer Emeritus”• @dougal• http://dougal.us• http://dougal.gunters.org

What kind of project?

What kind of project?

What kind of project?

Project Lifecycle

1.Idea

2.Build

3.Share

4.???

5.PROFIT!

So... Your project is popularGreat!

• More users• More developers• Community• ...and...• More troublemakers

Personality Spectrum

• Fanboy• Zealot• Enthusiast• Stoic• Skeptic• Grump• Hater

Hackers

• High visibility = TARGET!• How do you address security problems?

• Open?• Secretive?

Spammers

• Sometimes hackers == spammers• Why spam?

• Linkbacks• Ad farms

• Be proactive• Spam blocking systems

• Akismet• http:BL• Defensio• Etc.

Trolls

• “Trolling” for responses with inflamatory comments• Trolls make trouble for their own amusement• When other methods fail, silence is your best bet• “Don't feed the troll”

Big Egos

• Ego clashes stir up unrest• Recent example: Thesis vs GPL• With curation, leadership can find positives

• (sometimes)• Know when to fish and when to cut bait• “Splintering the community”

Keeping it real

• Remember: you can't please everybody• Lead by example• Cultivate good people

• Reward with recognition!• Don't be a douchebag!• Use criticism constructively

• Even if it wasn't meant that way

Thanks!