Michlmayr: Growing open-source projects with a stable foundation

Martin Michlmayr has put together a primer on managing open-source projects through their growth cycle, specifically with the help of a support foundation, and published the results as a 67-page PDF file.

Starting an open source project is easy. Running a successful project, on the other hand, comes with a lot of work and responsibilities, especially if the project attracts a large user base. While open source projects come in all shapes and forms, most projects encounter a similar set of growth issues throughout their life cycles. Because of this, various organizations have arisen to help projects handle these problems; these organizations are generally known as FOSS foundations. This primer covers non-technical aspects that the majority of projects will have to consider at some point. It also explains how FOSS foundations can help projects grow and succeed.

He has also posted a separate research report [PDF] on foundations that support open-source projects.

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