Open Source Project Maintainers
Bubble
Professional
Open Source Project Maintainers are individuals who steward and direct open source software projects, overseeing contributions, setting...Show more
Open Source Project Maintainers
Bubble
Professional
Open Source Project Maintainers are individuals who steward and direct open source software projects, overseeing contributions, setting policies, and ensuring project sustainability. They form a core group distinct from general contributors due to their leadership, governance, and guidance responsibilities.
Statistics
Estimated Global Reach
1.3M
Popularity
Medium
Regional Hotspot
Worldwide
General Q&A
An open source project maintainer is a contributor who leads and manages a project’s development, reviewing code, merging pull requests, and setting direction while fostering a healthy community.
Community Q&A
An open source project maintainer is a contributor who leads and manages a project’s development, reviewing code, merging pull requests, and setting direction while fostering a healthy community.
Maintainers connect through code platforms (like GitHub), collaborate in chat channels, lead discussions, and organize or participate in events such as issue triage sessions.
Community Q&A
Summary
Key Findings
Invisible Leadership
Insider PerspectiveMaintainers are seen internally as community stewards, balancing technical decisions with social leadership—outsiders may overlook their pivotal role beyond simple code management.
Burnout Norm
Social NormsBurnout is an accepted risk; maintainers openly discuss mental load and community fatigue as inherent consequences of their hybrid technical-social stewardship role.
Contribution Triage
Communication PatternsMaintainers use structured workflows like PR triage and issue grooming to manage overwhelming contributions, a specialized skill unseen or undervalued outside the bubble.
Sustainability Tensions
Opinion ShiftsOngoing debates about funding and governance reveal tensions between volunteer ethos and professionalization, shaping insider views on project sustainability and decision-making.
Sub Groups
Language-Specific Maintainers
Maintainers focused on projects in specific programming languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript, Rust).
Foundation-Affiliated Maintainers
Maintainers working under the umbrella of organizations like the Linux Foundation or Apache Software Foundation.
Tooling & Infrastructure Maintainers
Maintainers responsible for core developer tools, CI/CD, and infrastructure projects.
Community & Governance Leads
Maintainers specializing in community management, policy, and project governance.
Statistics and Demographics
Platform Distribution
1 / 3
GitHub
40%GitHub is the primary platform for open source project hosting, collaboration, and governance, making it the central hub for maintainers to manage projects and interact with contributors.
Discord
15%Many open source projects use Discord servers for real-time communication, coordination, and community management among maintainers and contributors.
Conferences & Trade Shows
10%Open source maintainers frequently engage at conferences and trade shows (e.g., FOSDEM, OSCON) for networking, collaboration, and sharing governance strategies.
Professional Settingsoffline
Gender & Age Distribution
Ideological & Social Divides
Community Development
Discover Similar Bubbles
Insider Knowledge
Terminology
Greeting Salutations
Example Conversation
Insider
LGTM! Ready to merge?
Outsider
Wait, what does LGTM mean?
Insider
Oh, it means 'Looks Good To Me' — it's our quick way to approve code changes before merging them.
Outsider
Ah, got it! Makes the process sound friendlier.
Cultural Context
This greeting uses a common acronym that signals an approval step, reflecting the peer-review culture of open source maintenance.
Inside Jokes
’LGTM’ is the final magic word to conjure a merge.
This joke plays on the fact that maintainers wait for 'LGTM' approvals before merging a PR, as if it were a spell to magically make the change official.
‘Merge conflicts: the maintainers’ rite of passage.’
Merge conflicts are a notoriously frustrating yet unavoidable task, signaling that you’ve truly stepped into the maintenance role.
Facts & Sayings
„PR triage“
The process of reviewing incoming pull requests to prioritize which need urgent attention, which can be deferred, and which require more discussion or changes.
„LGTM“
An acronym for 'Looks Good To Me,' used by maintainers and contributors to approve changes or code before merging.
„Merge window“
A specific period during the development cycle when maintainers accept contributions for a new release, after which the focus shifts to stabilization and bug fixes.
„Issue grooming“
The regular activity of reviewing, categorizing, and prioritizing open issues to keep the project backlog manageable and clear.
„Maintainer burnout“
A state of exhaustion and stress experienced by maintainers due to continuous pressure from workload, community demands, and emotional labor involved in the role.
Unwritten Rules
Always thank contributors for their efforts.
Acknowledging contributors fosters goodwill and encourages continued participation.
Be patient and explain feedback constructively.
Maintainers must maintain a welcoming tone to nurture new contributors and avoid discouragement.
Document decisions thoroughly.
Clear documentation of design and governance decisions helps reduce repeated questions and confusion.
Avoid merging your own pull requests hastily.
Independent review is valued for maintaining code quality and community trust.
Respect the project's code of conduct consistently.
Enforcing norms ensures a safe, inclusive environment, essential for long-term project health.
Fictional Portraits
1 / 3
Anita, 34
Software LeadfemaleAnita has been maintaining several popular open source libraries in the web development ecosystem for over 7 years, balancing coordination and code contributions.
Community SupportTransparencyQuality
Motivations
- Ensuring project sustainability and quality
- Empowering the community of contributors
- Driving innovation and adoption of the software
Challenges
- Managing contributor conflicts and merging priorities
- Balancing maintenance with new feature development
- Finding time amidst professional and personal commitments
Platforms
GitHubSlack communitiesConference calls
merge conflictscode freezebackporting
Insights & Background
Historical Timeline
Main Subjects
People
Linus Torvalds
Principal maintainer of the Linux kernel, pioneer of distributed version control (Git).↗
Kernel GuruGit CreatorOpen Source Icon
Guido van Rossum
Original author and long-time BDFL of Python, guiding language evolution and governance.↗
BDFLLanguage StewardCommunity Advocate
Brendan Eich
Creator of JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla, shaping web platform standards.↗
JS OriginatorStandards DriverBrowser Evangelist
Ryan Dahl
Creator and early maintainer of Node.js, introducing server-side JavaScript runtime.
Runtime InnovatorAsync PioneerJS Server
Evan You
Lead maintainer of Vue.js, popular progressive frontend framework.
Frontend StarReactive VisionaryCommunity-First
Daniel Stenberg
Principal maintainer of curl and libcurl, essential command-line transfer tool.
CLI MaestroNetwork ExpertReliability Champion
Sindre Sorhus
Prolific maintainer of hundreds of high-use npm packages, setting quality and licensing norms.
npm PowerhouseQuality EnforcerLicense Watchdog
Max Howell
Original creator and maintainer of Homebrew, leading macOS package management.
Brew MastermacOS PackagerCLI Evangelist
Kent C. Dodds
Maintainer of Testing Library and prominent educator in React testing best practices.
Test GuruReact AdvocateEducational Leader
Coraline Ada Ehmke
Co-author of the Contributor Covenant and advocate for inclusive governance in open source.
Code of ConductInclusivity ChampionGovernance Reformer
1 / 3
1 / 3
People
Linus Torvalds
Principal maintainer of the Linux kernel, pioneer of distributed version control (Git).↗
Kernel GuruGit CreatorOpen Source Icon
Guido van Rossum
Original author and long-time BDFL of Python, guiding language evolution and governance.↗
BDFLLanguage StewardCommunity Advocate
Brendan Eich
Creator of JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla, shaping web platform standards.↗
JS OriginatorStandards DriverBrowser Evangelist
Ryan Dahl
Creator and early maintainer of Node.js, introducing server-side JavaScript runtime.
Runtime InnovatorAsync PioneerJS Server
Evan You
Lead maintainer of Vue.js, popular progressive frontend framework.
Frontend StarReactive VisionaryCommunity-First
Daniel Stenberg
Principal maintainer of curl and libcurl, essential command-line transfer tool.
CLI MaestroNetwork ExpertReliability Champion
Sindre Sorhus
Prolific maintainer of hundreds of high-use npm packages, setting quality and licensing norms.
npm PowerhouseQuality EnforcerLicense Watchdog
Max Howell
Original creator and maintainer of Homebrew, leading macOS package management.
Brew MastermacOS PackagerCLI Evangelist
Kent C. Dodds
Maintainer of Testing Library and prominent educator in React testing best practices.
Test GuruReact AdvocateEducational Leader
Coraline Ada Ehmke
Co-author of the Contributor Covenant and advocate for inclusive governance in open source.
Code of ConductInclusivity ChampionGovernance Reformer
First Steps & Resources
Get-Started Steps
Time to basics: 1-2 months
1
Study Maintainer Responsibilities
2-3 hoursBasic
Summary: Read guides and documentation on what open source maintainers do and their core responsibilities.
Details: Begin by thoroughly researching what it means to be an open source project maintainer. This involves reading official documentation, community guides, and blog posts that outline the day-to-day tasks, ethical considerations, and leadership roles maintainers take on. Focus on understanding governance, code review, community management, and release processes. Many beginners underestimate the non-coding aspects, such as communication and conflict resolution. To overcome this, seek out real-world stories from maintainers and pay attention to the challenges they highlight. This foundational knowledge is crucial, as it sets realistic expectations and helps you decide if this path aligns with your interests and skills. Evaluate your progress by being able to clearly articulate the maintainer’s role and identify the main challenges they face.
2
Contribute to Project Discussions
1-2 weeks (ongoing)Basic
Summary: Participate in issue trackers, mailing lists, or chat channels for open source projects you use or admire.
Details: Active engagement in project discussions is a key step toward understanding the social and technical dynamics of open source communities. Start by joining the communication channels (such as issue trackers, forums, or chat rooms) of projects you’re interested in. Observe how maintainers interact with contributors, handle questions, and make decisions. Begin contributing by asking clarifying questions, providing feedback, or helping triage issues. A common challenge is feeling intimidated or unsure about when to speak up; overcome this by starting with small, respectful contributions and gradually increasing your involvement. This step is vital for building relationships and learning the community’s norms. Progress is measured by your comfort in participating and the quality of your interactions.
3
Make and Review Contributions
2-4 weeks (ongoing)Intermediate
Summary: Submit small pull requests and review others’ code to understand contribution workflows and standards.
Details: Hands-on contribution is essential for aspiring maintainers. Start by identifying beginner-friendly issues (often labeled as such) and submitting small pull requests. Equally important is reviewing others’ contributions—read through open pull requests, leave constructive comments, and observe how maintainers provide feedback. This dual perspective helps you internalize the technical standards and review processes that maintainers uphold. Beginners often struggle with unfamiliar workflows or fear making mistakes; address this by reading contribution guidelines carefully and asking for feedback. This step builds your technical credibility and demonstrates your commitment to the project. Progress can be tracked by the number and quality of your contributions and reviews, and by receiving positive feedback from maintainers.
1
Study Maintainer Responsibilities
2-3 hoursBasic
Summary: Read guides and documentation on what open source maintainers do and their core responsibilities.
Details: Begin by thoroughly researching what it means to be an open source project maintainer. This involves reading official documentation, community guides, and blog posts that outline the day-to-day tasks, ethical considerations, and leadership roles maintainers take on. Focus on understanding governance, code review, community management, and release processes. Many beginners underestimate the non-coding aspects, such as communication and conflict resolution. To overcome this, seek out real-world stories from maintainers and pay attention to the challenges they highlight. This foundational knowledge is crucial, as it sets realistic expectations and helps you decide if this path aligns with your interests and skills. Evaluate your progress by being able to clearly articulate the maintainer’s role and identify the main challenges they face.
2
Contribute to Project Discussions
1-2 weeks (ongoing)Basic
Summary: Participate in issue trackers, mailing lists, or chat channels for open source projects you use or admire.
Details: Active engagement in project discussions is a key step toward understanding the social and technical dynamics of open source communities. Start by joining the communication channels (such as issue trackers, forums, or chat rooms) of projects you’re interested in. Observe how maintainers interact with contributors, handle questions, and make decisions. Begin contributing by asking clarifying questions, providing feedback, or helping triage issues. A common challenge is feeling intimidated or unsure about when to speak up; overcome this by starting with small, respectful contributions and gradually increasing your involvement. This step is vital for building relationships and learning the community’s norms. Progress is measured by your comfort in participating and the quality of your interactions.
3
Make and Review Contributions
2-4 weeks (ongoing)Intermediate
Summary: Submit small pull requests and review others’ code to understand contribution workflows and standards.
Details: Hands-on contribution is essential for aspiring maintainers. Start by identifying beginner-friendly issues (often labeled as such) and submitting small pull requests. Equally important is reviewing others’ contributions—read through open pull requests, leave constructive comments, and observe how maintainers provide feedback. This dual perspective helps you internalize the technical standards and review processes that maintainers uphold. Beginners often struggle with unfamiliar workflows or fear making mistakes; address this by reading contribution guidelines carefully and asking for feedback. This step builds your technical credibility and demonstrates your commitment to the project. Progress can be tracked by the number and quality of your contributions and reviews, and by receiving positive feedback from maintainers.
4
Learn Project Governance Structures
3-5 hoursIntermediate
Summary: Study how open source projects are governed, including decision-making, codes of conduct, and release processes.
Details: Understanding governance is critical for maintainers. Investigate how projects make decisions, resolve conflicts, and manage releases. Read governance documents, codes of conduct, and release policies from established projects. Compare different models (e.g., BDFL, meritocracy, consensus) to see what fits various communities. Beginners may find governance jargon confusing; overcome this by looking for plain-language summaries and asking experienced maintainers for clarification. This knowledge is important because maintainers often mediate disputes and set project direction. Evaluate your progress by being able to explain the governance model of a project and identify how decisions are made and enforced.
5
Shadow an Experienced Maintainer
1-2 weeks (part-time)Advanced
Summary: Observe or assist a current maintainer in their daily tasks, such as triaging issues or managing releases.
Details: The most authentic way to learn is by shadowing an experienced maintainer. Reach out to maintainers of projects you contribute to and ask if you can observe or help with routine tasks—triaging issues, reviewing pull requests, or preparing releases. Some projects have formal mentorship programs; others may welcome informal shadowing. Beginners often hesitate to ask for this opportunity, fearing rejection; overcome this by expressing genuine interest and being respectful of their time. Shadowing provides insight into the real challenges and decision-making processes maintainers face, which are often invisible to general contributors. Progress is measured by your increasing ability to handle maintainer tasks independently and the feedback you receive from your mentor.
Welcoming Practices
„First issue welcome message“
A friendly, template-based message sent to new contributors when they file their first issue or PR, making them feel appreciated and supported.
„New contributor labels“
Marking beginner contributions visibly as a way to encourage patience and provide targeted support within the community.
Beginner Mistakes
Ignoring issue templates and submission guidelines.
Carefully read project contribution docs to reduce back-and-forth and increase chances of acceptance.
Jumping to open large or complex pull requests without discussion.
Start small or open an issue first to get feedback and align with project priorities.
Pathway to Credibility
Tap a pathway step to view details
Consistent, quality contributions
Regularly submitting well-tested, documented code or improvements establishes trust and visibility with maintainers.
Active participation in discussions and issue triage
Engaging meaningfully beyond code shows commitment to project health and community.
Taking on maintainer or reviewer roles
Receiving formal or informal responsibility to manage parts of the project signals full insider status and leadership.
Facts
Regional Differences
North America
North American maintainers often have more access to corporate sponsorships and funding platforms, influencing sustainability approaches.
Europe
European maintainers may emphasize formal governance structures and inclusivity policies, reflecting broader regulatory environments.
Asia
Asian maintainers sometimes blend open source maintenance with strong contributions to proprietary projects, navigating unique community and corporate ecosystems.
Misconceptions
Misconception #1
Maintainers are just gatekeepers who say 'no' to contributions.
Reality
Maintainers balance accepting contributions with quality control, community norms, and project sustainability; they are leaders and facilitators, not just blockers.
Misconception #2
Maintainers get paid well and have plenty of free time.
Reality
Many maintainers volunteer enormous amounts of unpaid time, often balancing full-time jobs and community responsibilities, leading to stress and burnout.
Misconception #3
Maintainers only do code reviews.
Reality
Their role includes community management, conflict resolution, documentation, release planning, mentoring, fundraising, and more.
Clothing & Styles
T-shirts with project logos
Often worn at conferences or meetups, signaling pride in the project one maintains or contributes to, and helping to identify fellow community members.
Conference hoodies
Common swag that maintainers collect or wear, representing presence in the open source community and participation in relevant events.
