New Project Checklist

New Project Checklist#

This is a relatively simple checklist for you to consider when starting a new open source project, especially where the project may be starting small but wants room to grow. By “simple” we mean: This list doesn’t propose a process or project management for accomplishing these items. In its most simple form it does not have definitions for items; it suggests what is to come without prescribing or demanding obedience to the list.

These are separated out into several different lists, depending on the area covered:

Goals of project#

  • Technical problem addressed by the project

  • Intended users and value proposition

  • Establish beginning roadmap with milestones

Market positioning#

  • List of related/similar projects

  • Why a net-new project?

  • Key differentiators

Project name#

  • Compile and vet candidate list

  • Logo design

  • Legal review (if required)

  • Reserve name (domain name, GitHub, social media handles, etc.)

Governance#

  • Define officers & their responsibilities

  • Org structure, voting requirements and process

  • Rules for amending governance

  • Rules for contribution, committer status

  • Provisions for sub-projects and lifecycle management

  • Privacy policy

  • Code of conduct

  • Foundation membership options, if planned

Project infrastructure#

  • Mail tool (and moderators)

  • Forum/Chat (and moderators)

  • Doc repository (slides, planning docs, etc.)

  • Web conferencing platform

  • Community calendar (tool + who will maintain)

  • Public website and website maintenance

  • CI/CD, development and test environments

  • Lab requirements, how they will be acquired

  • Code contribution tools and process

  • Project documentation platform

Ownership and financing#

These items may be ignored if donating project assets to a foundation.

  • Website URL

  • Logo

  • Social media handles

  • Web conferencing platform (if paid)

  • Process for funding project needs

Launch planning#

  • D&I plan

  • Community health and metrics vision/plan