Editing Community Organizing (section)

=== 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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