Pitfalls of a Popular Project

Who am I? • Dougal Campbell • WordPress “Developer Emeritus” • @dougal • http://dougal.us • http://dougal.gunters.org

What kind of project?

Project Lifecycle 1.Idea 2.Build 3.Share 4.??? 5.PROFIT!

So... Your project is popular Great! • More users • More developers • Community • ...and... • More troublemakers

Personality Spectrum • Fanboy • Zealot • Enthusiast • Stoic • Skeptic • Grump • Hater

Hackers • High visibility = TARGET! • How do you address security problems? • Open? • Secretive?

Spammers • Sometimes hackers == spammers • Why spam? • Linkbacks • Ad farms • Be proactive • Spam blocking systems • Akismet • http:BL • Defensio • Etc.

Trolls • “Trolling” for responses with inflamatory comments • Trolls make trouble for their own amusement • When other methods fail, silence is your best bet • “Don't feed the troll”

Big Egos • Ego clashes stir up unrest • Recent example: Thesis vs GPL • With curation, leadership can find positives • (sometimes) • Know when to fish and when to cut bait • “Splintering the community”

Keeping it real • Remember: you can't please everybody • Lead by example • Cultivate good people • Reward with recognition! • Don't be a douchebag! • Use criticism constructively • Even if it wasn't meant that way

Thanks!

http://dougal.gunters.org	415
http://me2.findoo.info	14
http://wpslide.com	1
http://feeds.feedburner.com	1

Pitfalls of a Popular Project

by Dougal Campbell on Sep 18, 2010

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Pitfalls of a Popular Project — Presentation Transcript