<![CDATA[It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you.]]>It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you.

It is okay to declare that a F/OSS project that you maintain is feature complete and stop.

It is okay to stop writing new code in a F/OSS project and just review patches from other people.

It is okay to stop reviewing patches once other people are familiar enough with the codebase to do so.

It is okay to admit that a F/OSS project that you created has so much technical debt that people would be better off reimplementing it than depending on it (especially if you write down the lessons that they should learn).

It is okay if your F/OSS project doesn't meet the requirements of some potential group of users, as long as no one applies pressure to force them to adopt it.

It is okay to tell a company that depends on your F/OSS project that it's unsupported and they can pay developers to contribute if they really need it.

It's okay to say 'I created this F/OSS project to meet my personal needs, but someone else made something that meets those needs better and so I'll use theirs instead'.

It's okay to say 'I made this F/OSS project as an experiment, and the result was that I learned that this approach is a bad idea'.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/fd63a504-80bc-4cba-8e25-17cfd918aafc/it-is-okay-to-release-a-f-oss-project-where-the-expected-set-of-users-is-you.RSS for NodeThu, 11 Jun 2026 03:13:53 GMTWed, 03 Jun 2026 12:59:10 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:53:35 GMT]]>@david_chisnall After all, that is why just about every FOSS license allows you to fork and develop onwards on your own.

It’s okay to just use my project as a stepping stone towards the project *you* want, without expecting me to get involved.

Feels like a lot of folks out there don’t consider that option for whatever reason.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.mallegolhansen.com/users/philip/statuses/116687923783897923https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.mallegolhansen.com/users/philip/statuses/116687923783897923Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:53:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:40:42 GMT]]>@david_chisnall in other words, it's okay to not attach hubris to your project. Which is something many people starting projects have a hard time to recognize and accept.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/isagalaev/statuses/116687873147183806https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/isagalaev/statuses/116687873147183806Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:40:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:59:36 GMT]]>@david_chisnall I once wrote and published a code-golfed Tetris clone in 4 kB of JavaScript. People started filing feature requests for it 😆

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/thomastc/statuses/116687711512748310https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/thomastc/statuses/116687711512748310Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:59:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:04:15 GMT]]>@david_chisnall

Oh that very last one. Spent a month of weekends trying to optimize something I wrote 25 years ago.

Very elegant. Very functional. Very slow for initial usage as it built itself. Some improvement over the original, but that first time sink sucks.

So the regexes stay for now. Sorry not sorry.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/NuclearOatmeal/statuses/116687493889430311https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/NuclearOatmeal/statuses/116687493889430311Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:04:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:56:35 GMT]]>@david_chisnall ... --- ... ... --- ... S. O. S. We need Sustainable Open Source

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/ap/users/116637059636325369/statuses/116687463713865257https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/ap/users/116637059636325369/statuses/116687463713865257Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:56:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:48:45 GMT]]>@david_chisnall@infosec. Sometimes building something requires strong will and ideals.Thank you for providing the community with inspiration.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116659277376049832/statuses/116687432958439979https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116659277376049832/statuses/116687432958439979Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:48:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:46:12 GMT]]>@david_chisnall@infosec.exchange And is it also OK to use AI to code it, because I’m fine with it and if you aren’t then just move on and use something else?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hollo.weisensee.me/@nils/019e8e97-c791-7007-9a1f-98eeeedb3637https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hollo.weisensee.me/@nils/019e8e97-c791-7007-9a1f-98eeeedb3637Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:46:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:45:42 GMT]]>@david_chisnall

Words to live by!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/sleepy62/statuses/116687420967178785https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/sleepy62/statuses/116687420967178785Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:45:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:32:27 GMT]]>@david_chisnall @nske @zm I always delete mine when someone feels the need to make one.
Let me exist in obscurity.
What you do when I'm dead and gone I do not care about.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687368838176815https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687368838176815Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:32:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:27:29 GMT]]>@zm @david_chisnall it's out there. Maybe it saves someone some time down the road maybe not.
Use it or don't seems to be a rather difficult concept for some.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687349348115861https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687349348115861Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:27:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:24:51 GMT]]>@david_chisnall @SCALETHEORY I, personally, hate this Rather stupid character limits that prevent any kind of serious posts on this platform.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687338934912151https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687338934912151Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:24:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:22:29 GMT]]>@david_chisnall it's okay to put your code out there. State that people can take it or leave it and never as much as look at it again.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687329681449826https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/TheOneDoc/statuses/116687329681449826Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:22:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:18:00 GMT]]>
You don't have to be an active maintainer for me to read and use your code.

CC: @david_chisnall@infosec.exchange
]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hj.9fs.net/ori/p/1780507080.027413https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hj.9fs.net/ori/p/1780507080.027413Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:18:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:17:33 GMT]]>It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you.


Which explains this: code.azkware.net/csolisr/publi… I sure use my own scripts a lot - and if somebody else can take them as inspiration, well go ahead

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hub.azkware.net/objects/6e2ecb8d-126a-2061-ad78-fce580903168https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hub.azkware.net/objects/6e2ecb8d-126a-2061-ad78-fce580903168Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:17:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:01:50 GMT]]>@zm @lil5

I am also not keen on framing the social contract as governed exclusively by the license. The license describes obligations. You get my code, I get attribution, neither of us owes the other anything, in a legal sense.

But that doesn’t mean that we can’t build a community where members do more than the absolute minimum.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687248480827327https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687248480827327Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:01:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:40:00 GMT]]>@david_chisnall
@lil5

I interpreted that as a viewpoint of the developer. Like, if you make a project open source and make your intentions known through your license, and someone doesn't read it and expects free labor, then why should I care what their expectations are.

That could be a valid way to think about it, but I think that's what I'm trying to avoid because of the adversarial mindset.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://kolektiva.social/users/zm/statuses/116687162605311728https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://kolektiva.social/users/zm/statuses/116687162605311728Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:40:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:22:12 GMT]]>@nske @zm

Aww, but now I want a Wikipedia infobox!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687092600365321https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687092600365321Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:22:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:21:22 GMT]]>@zm

I can do things that make life better for some people. I can't control how other people interpret that. And I don't want to allow myself to be paralysed by the fear of how people might perceive my actions.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687089327257903https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687089327257903Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:21:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:21:12 GMT]]>@david_chisnall @zm sorry I didn't mean you personally. I've just sat through too many presentations by the kind of people I was describing!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ravenation.club/users/nske/statuses/116687088669577024https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ravenation.club/users/nske/statuses/116687088669577024Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:21:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:19:10 GMT]]>@nske @zm

I don't have a Wikipedia page (this is emphatically not me, and neither is the professional darts player who shares our name but also doesn't qualify for a Wikipedia entry).

I must be doing something wrong.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687080687154283https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687080687154283Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:19:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:18:13 GMT]]>@david_chisnall
That's a fair assessment. I guess my own fear would be misconstrued intentions and expectations which aren't really in your control.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://kolektiva.social/users/zm/statuses/116687076921123063https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://kolektiva.social/users/zm/statuses/116687076921123063Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:18:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:16:49 GMT]]>@zm

I don't think that follows from @lil5 's post and seems needlessly aggressive and confrontational. I read their post as a genuine question and attempted to reply. I am not able to find a positive way of interpreting your post. If it was intended to contribute to the discussion usefully, perhaps you'd be willing to take a couple of minutes to rephrase it to better communicate that intent?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687071422286380https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116687071422286380Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:16:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:09:51 GMT]]>@zm @david_chisnall Project gets used widely -> Get name as lead developer in the Wikipedia infobox -> get invited to lots of conferences -> Profit! -> retire (I know some of these steps sound tenuous, I didn't make the rules)

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ravenation.club/users/nske/statuses/116687044026132437https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ravenation.club/users/nske/statuses/116687044026132437Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:09:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to It is okay to release a F/OSS project where the expected set of users is you. on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:09:47 GMT]]>@zm @david_chisnall if you have no intention of giving a shit and reading the license why would I give a shit about your opinion?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.last.nl/users/lil5/statuses/01KT73Z0SM6RJ0DRR4G62EDVEKhttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.last.nl/users/lil5/statuses/01KT73Z0SM6RJ0DRR4G62EDVEKWed, 03 Jun 2026 16:09:47 GMT