TractionGetting Traction for (your) Open Source Projects

Michael Boelenmichael.boelen@cisofy.com

T-DOSE 2016, 12 November (NLLGG track)

Why? (developers)

Promote your open source project● Users● Feedback● Invisible benefits

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Why? (non-developers)

Use your knowledge● Contribute● Improve software you use● Enhance your resume

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Michael Boelen● Open Source

○ Lynis, Rootkit Hunter

● Business○ Founder of CISOfy

● Other○ Blogger at Linux-Audit.com○ Board member and program committee NLUUG

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Traction?

Something that is “going” and grows (quickly)

Example: my open source project, that continuously gains in popularity, and becomes well-known.

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● Trade shows● Affiliate programs● Offline advertising● Search Engine

Marketing● Social advertisements● Viral marketing● Business development● Public relations

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Traction Channels● Search Engine

Optimization● Content management● Demo’s● Community building● Speaking engagements● Reaching out to blogs● Social sharing● Email marketing

Is that really needed for FOSS?

Importance of Traction

Software is written to be used

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Translating to Open Source

Components● Quality of software● Promotion● Community

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Promotion

Experiment

Great tip: …………………...by @mboelen at @TDOSE (@nllgg track)

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Low-hanging fruit

● Remember (or forget…)● Length● Goal

Name

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GoodRootkit Hunter(rkhunter)

Name

BadLynis

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VersioningSemantic!

Major.Minor.Patch

15Learn more: semver.org

Change Log

● History● Trust● Troubleshooting

16Learn more: keepachangelog.com

Documentation

● README.md● Get Started● Other documentation

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Project Description

GitHub SEO

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Best Practices for CLI--full-throttle-engine, -f--help, -h, or help--version, -V

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Learn more: doctopt.org

Best Practices for CLI● Share progress● Dots

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Best Practices for CLI

● Use exit codes● Data output● Integrations

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Updates

● Newer is better?● Perform update check● Make it easy

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Releases

● Release often● Who picks it up?● RSS

Trick https://github.com/CISOfy/lynis/releases.atom

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Packages

Good● Promotion● Easy of use

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Bad● Needs maintainer● The “stable” bug

OpenHub

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See more details: OpenHub

Takeaways

● Structure● Simplicity● Quality

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High-hanging fruit

Sites about news/tools

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GitHub

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Referral

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Social Media

● Interact● Share at the right time● Challenge

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Takeaways

● Know good sources● Share and promote● Monitor activity

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High traffic websites

● Hacker News● Reddit● Slashdot● TechRepublic

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Quality traffic (for security)

● Packet Storm Security● ToolsWatch

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Jackpot

PersonalDirect feedbackFans

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HN Effect

Traffic2016-11-04: 44782016-11-05: 16562016-11-06: 1201

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HN Effect

Stars2016-11-02: 11102016-11-04: 12002016-11-05: 17702016-11-06: 21302016-11-07: 23402016-11-08: 2670

Source: http://www.timqian.com/star-history/#CISOfy/lynis 38

GitHub (Trending)

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Side effects

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The “sticky” effect

There is more behind the peak

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Jackpot Multipliers

● Ask● Networking● Persistance

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Lessons learned

1 - Be a Marketeer

Promotion is needed

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2 - Humble versus Pride

Balance

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3 - Quality

It takes time:● Get the basics right● Focus on simplicity● Understand your users

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More?

Articles on linux-audit.com● Why we use your open source project (or not) ● How to Promote your Open Source Project

Share this presentation! ;-)

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Questions?

Connect● Twitter (@mboelen)● LinkedIn (Michael Boelen)

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