Open tools need ongoing maintenance
Open source tools often end up in the “graveyard”: unmaintained, under-documented, and ultimately unknown. Lack of a plan for lifecycle or handoff can make it harder to build on what came before
Solutions
1.
Explore financially sustainable models
Consider commercialization, cooperative ownership, or hybrid open-proprietary models to fund long-term maintenance.
2.
Embed sustainability early
To create a more adaptable and long-lasting technology infrastructure, design for interoperability from the start. Enabling platforms to connect and share information with less friction can ensure that they remain useful for longer.
3.
Plan for transitions
Define ownership, handoff, or archiving strategies early on. Identify long-term stewards or institutions who can take over maintenance if needed.
4.
Develop a plan for sharing and supporting existing tools
Consider building interoperability into existing projects or tools, rather than creating redundant ones.
5.
Make the case for funding
Document use cases, community impact, and maintenance needs to secure funding for tool longevity.
Know of another resource or solution?
Resources
Sponsorship providers
Special organizations exist for the purpose of fiscally sponsoring projects. While each project has individual needs that should be independently assessed, a non-conclusive list of Fiscal Sponsorship providers includes: Open Source Collective, Aspiration Technology, Allied Media Foundation, Code for Science and Society, and Open Science Hardware Foundation.
CHAOSS Project (Community Health Analytics for Open Source Software)
CHAOSS Project (Community Health Analytics for Open Source Software) provides metrics for evaluating the health and sustainability of open source communities.
The Open Source Way
The Open Source Way is a guidebook on how to build sustainable open source communities.
The Software Sustainability Institute
The Software Sustainability Institute offers guidance and tools for software lifecycle planning and handoff strategies.