Dreams vs. Reality: Building an Open-Source Project (DevHunt)
Tags: opensource, devtool, buildinpublic
Published: 2023-05-31 16:25:28

Open-source projects have become increasingly popular in the tech industry, with developers from all over the world collaborating to create innovative solutions. However, as we discovered on our journey to create an open-source project, it's not always easy sailing.

## How We Started Our Journey With High Hopes and Dreams

We started our journey with high hopes and dreams of creating something truly amazing that would change people's lives. Our goal was clear - to create a platform where developers could launch their dev tools without any hassle or bias.

Initially, everything seemed to be going well. We had enthusiastic contributors who were eager to help us make this dream a reality. We launched a temporary landing page and even created some basic features for our website.

## Challenges We Faced Along the Way

However, challenges quickly arose along the way. One of the biggest issues we faced was lack of contributors. Some people promised they'd contribute but didn't follow through; others simply lost interest after initial excitement wore off.

Another challenge we encountered was burnout among active contributors due to working long hours without pay or recognition. There were times when it felt like everyone had lost their motivation because progress wasn't being made fast enough.

Project management also proved challenging at times as there were disagreements about how things should be done which led to delays in completion timeframes.

Overall morale took a hit many times during this process but we persevered despite difficulties and obstacles thrown in front of us; however sometimes it felt like giving up may be easier than pushing forward.
 
## Self-Reflection On What Could Have Been Done Differently 

It is important for any team embarking on an open source project that they are realistic about what can actually be achieved within certain time frames whilst taking into account various factors such as contributor availability & experience levels etc.. This will help ensure that expectations are manageable from both sides.

In hindsight, we could have done things differently. For instance, perhaps we should have dedicated more time to planning and team building before diving into the project itself. We also realized that it was important to be transparent about our struggles along the way and not hide them from contributors or the community, as this could have helped us find solutions faster.

In addition to that, we also should have had a clear roadmap of the project from day one and communicated it effectively with everyone involved. This would have allowed everyone to be on the same page and understand what their contributions were building towards.

## Lessons Learned and Advice for Others

Despite all the challenges we faced along the way, there are some valuable lessons that we learned through our journey. For instance:
- Building an open-source project requires patience and determination.
- Communication is key: being transparent about progress (or lack thereof) can help keep contributors motivated.
- Clear planning and execution strategies can make or break a project.
- It's important to set realistic expectations from both sides in terms of deliverables & timelines.

If you're thinking about embarking on your own open-source project, here are some tips:

1. Find passionate contributors - look for people who share your vision and will work hard towards making it happen
2. Clearly define goals & scope of work ahead of time
3. Communicate regularly with your team members
4. Have a good plan in place before starting any development work
5. Be flexible in case things don't go according to plan

## Our Next Steps 

As for our own project, despite all difficulties we faced so far, we're still determined to see it through until completion because believe in its potential.

We're currently reviewing our approach so far; identifying where improvements could be made while continuing forward progress at relatively slow pace due to limited resources available i.e volunteers only contributing when they can spare some free time .

Our ultimate goal remains unchanged - creating a platform that makes launching dev tools easier than ever before!

Follow our story unfold here [my twitter](https://twitter.com/johnrushx/highlights)

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