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