This document discusses some of the pitfalls that popular open source projects may face as they grow in popularity. It notes that as projects gain more users and developers, they also become bigger targets for troublemakers like hackers, spammers, trolls, and people with big egos. It provides tips for project maintainers on how to address security issues openly or secretly, prevent spam, deal with trolls, handle ego clashes, keep the community united, and use criticism constructively. The overall message is that the popularity of a project can attract both positive and negative elements that require vigilance and leadership to manage effectively.

1. Pitfalls of a Popular Project

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

3. What kind of project?

4. What kind of project?

5. What kind of project?

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

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

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

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

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

11. 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”

12. 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”

13. 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

14. Thanks!