Editing Community Organizing (section)

== First Impressions ==

First impressions matter immensely in open source projects. When potential contributors visit the for the first time, they form quick judgments about its professionalism, activity level, and whether it’s worth their time. A well-organized, '''authentic''' yet visually appealing project homepage serves as your project’s face to the world and can make the difference between someone getting involved or moving on.

The project homepage should prominently display our mission statement, open source license and how to contribute. The mission statement helps visitors quickly understand what problem your project solves and whether it aligns with their interests. Being upfront about licensing shows transparency and showing the emphasis on people helps would-be contributors understand they are welcome and where to go. This clarity is especially important for attracting contributors who care deeply about our values.

The concept of “hacktivation energy” - the effort required for someone to make their first contribution - is crucial. The lower this barrier, the more likely we are able to convert interested visitors into active participants. Provide clear documentation on how to get started, what help is needed, and where to find key resources. Make it obvious how someone can contribute, whether through code, documentation, testing, or other means.

Your project should embody the collaborative spirit of open source through tools like wikis that enable community participation. Focus heavily on the human aspects - showcase your community members, highlight different ways to get involved, and maintain authenticity in all communications. An open source project is ultimately about people working together, not just code.

Infact the community ''is'' the product a maximum 50% of attention should be given to the product on the landing page.

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=== Hacktivation Energy ===

Every project has what can be called a “hacktivation energy barrier” - the amount of effort and time a newcomer must invest before they can start making meaningful contributions. Just as chemical reactions require an initial energy input to get started, potential contributors need to overcome certain barriers before they can effectively participate in the project. This includes understanding the codebase, development practices, communication channels, and community norms.

The lower this hacktivation energy barrier, the more likely it is that new contributors will successfully join and remain active in the project. Projects with high hacktivation energy - for example, those with complex build processes, poor documentation, or unclear contribution guidelines - often struggle to attract and retain new contributors. Even highly motivated newcomers may become discouraged and leave if they cannot make progress after investing significant time.

Successful projects actively work to reduce their hacktivation energy barrier through several key practices: maintaining clear, comprehensive documentation; providing easy-to-follow setup instructions; marking “good first issues” that are appropriate for newcomers; offering mentorship; and fostering a welcoming environment where questions are encouraged. The goal is not to eliminate all barriers - some complexity is inherent in any non-trivial project - but rather to ensure the initial effort required is proportional to the value of the contribution and that newcomers can see a clear path to making their first meaningful contribution.

Core contributors should regularly examine their project through the eyes of a newcomer to identify and address unnecessary friction points that raise the hacktivation energy barrier. This might involve streamlining development setup, improving documentation, or breaking down complex tasks into more approachable pieces. Remember that what seems obvious to experienced contributors may be a significant obstacle for newcomers.

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