Open Source and saying No #OpenSource #OSS @iBotPeaches
When should an open source software project say no to a feature request? Connor Tumbleson writes:
I’m exhausted from seeing a library abandoned because it expanded too much in features.
I’m exhaused from seeing a library buggy because it expanded too much in features.
I’m exhausted from internal debates rewriting a package and assuming that responsibility to have a smaller isolated feature set.
From an Open Source maintainer perspective, it’s extremely important to say “no” to requests/features that bloat a library too much. What has been seen occur many times played out is something like this:
Talented contributor Z delivers feature X to project Y.
Project Y accepts it.
Feature X has an issue in latest release.
Project Y didn’t start that feature so asks contributor Z for some help.
Contributor Z is not around and the fix is taken in by the project.
So a project shouldn’t think about the short term benefit of a new feature, but understand the long term implication of supporting such feature.
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