As an open source developer for 3 decades now, I used to have this flippant attitude. Trust me when I say, it doesn't work.

Build the framework for tests and then require anyone who wants to help build the product to write tests with their PRs.

You can't just push some code out there and expect people to "feel free to help", it doesn't happen, and is quite a turnoff.

To the downvoters, this is what I see as valid feedback to a rather flippant response.

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jeanlucas 4 months ago | parent [-]

You just wanted to complain and not add anything? Not really getting your point at all

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latchkey 4 months ago | parent [-]

Sorry you're not getting my point. It isn't a complaint. I'm responding to a rather flippant "feel free to help" with some advice from someone who's been doing this a long time.

I've got a project that has been going for 6 years now and attracted 500 stars and gets 49k downloads a month. It works because it has comprehensive unit tests and people can rely on it. When I was just starting out on that project, I didn't tell people to feel free to help. I put the effort in. It is important to lay the groundwork beyond just writing the utility.

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m0zzie 4 months ago | parent [-]

Apologies if you already know this, but I noticed you’re getting flagged so thought I’d add some context: the author is the CEO of Obsidian and has a few successful projects, so bragging about your 500 stars and saying things like “when I was just starting out, I didn't tell people to feel free to help. I put the effort in” is probably rubbing people the wrong way.

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latchkey 4 months ago | parent [-]

Clarified "starting out on that project". I've been doing this for 30 years and I'm also a CEO. I've had multiple successful projects, like starting Java@Apache and open sourcing Tomcat.

I made a lot of mistakes along the way and one of them was being flippant on my responses to people like that. Just sharing my insights.

	▲	m0zzie 4 months ago \| parent [-]
		Your follow up post and edits help with clarifying the tone, hopefully readers see that.