how to bring in new people [was: forwarded message from Satish Athreya]

In http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-April/001348.html,
Keith Whitwell writes:

> Unfortunately in my experience, emails like this usually end at
> about this point.  You can reply or not, but whatever effort goes
> into it is usually wasted [...] chances are that's the last you'll
> hear of them.

And here, in one paragraph, is why some people believe this
project is in trouble.

I won't deny for an instant that, in a volunteer world, the effort
*is* usually wasted.  Fair enough.

But one shouldn't care.  One should, and even must, optimize
for the case where it *wouldn't* be wasted ... if one welcomed
everyone, arms open, instead of "only sometimes", and always
arms-folded.

Put yourself in their shoes.  They offer to do something, you
respond, "Cool!  Actually, here's the list of stuff that no one is
working on right now that probably needs doing more."  They
feel like, hey, there might be something interesting for me to
contribute here.  But, instead, they offer to do something, and
someone replies with "well, that's bogus, but if you want to you
could work on XYZ".  See the difference in tone?  The
information is identical, but the underlying message isn't.   In this
case, what's to prevent them from concluding that that these
guys are just techno-snobs, and that thus it's less worth trying
to contribute because of it?  Now consider instead, no response
at all, just because it "probably" won't go anywhere.  Well,
you've just changed something from "almost probably" won't go
anywhere to an "almost certainly" won't go anwhere -- except
for the really dedicated and thick-skinned, who will tend to
overcome whatever barriers are put in place anyways.

And make no mistake, this is a barrier.  It's not insurmountable,
maybe it's doesn't even seem like a big one to you, but it's a
barrier nonetheless.  (Remember, there are a _lot_ of open source
projects out there.  Everyone is free to pick and choose which
ones to contribute to -- or not -- based on their own motivations).

So if you only want people joining that don't mind not being
made to initially feel welcome, by all means, leave things as
they are.  But the next time you wonder why it's so difficult
to find new contributors, you ought to go back and read all
the above.

Note: this is not meant as a personal flame.  It is very easy
to get burned out after putting out the welcome mat hundreds
of times -- I know.  I have done this.

But in my book, the term for the thing that makes you keep putting
it out time and time again is called "leadership".

Think about it.  Please.

Mark Linimon