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Do you feel panic when receiving a notification from your open-source project? Is a backlog of unanswered issues wearing you down? You wanted to put something out there for others to use, but now it feels like a second job. Keep stressing out like this and you will burn out and leave another project abandoned on GitHub. In my talk we will rediscover your personal reasons for doing open source in the first place. We will practice dealing with issues effectively to free up time for the work that motivates you.
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In his talk at RailsConf 2021 titled "Why I'm Closing Your GitHub Issue," Henning Koch addresses the stress and challenges faced by open source maintainers, particularly the risk of burnout. Koch shares his experiences and provides actionable advice on how maintainers can reclaim their motivation and improve their engagement with open source projects. Key points discussed include: - **The Burden of Notifications**: Koch explains how the influx of GitHub notifications and issues can lead maintainers to feel overwhelmed, comparing their roles to a second job that detracts from their original motivation for contributing. - **Recognition and Burnout**: He discusses the fine line between intrinsic motivation and burnout, emphasizing how passion for open source can sometimes result in excessive personal investment without adequate reward. - **Personal Insights**: Koch reflects on his personal journey with open source, describing the emotional highs and lows he experienced while maintaining numerous projects. He highlights the transition from enjoyment to a sense of obligation when faced with endless issues and requests. - **Setting Boundaries**: Koch shares his approach to mitigating burnout by focusing only on issues that align with his motivations and shutting down requests that do not. He provides examples of how he deals with feature requests and issues constructively, including asking users to contribute themselves if they want a feature or closing issues that do not align with the project's goals. - **The Importance of Saying No**: The talk emphasizes that it’s okay for maintainers to decline requests or close issues without feeling guilty. Koch shares techniques such as asking contributors to submit pull requests or closing stale issues to manage his workload effectively. - **Promoting Positive Community Interaction**: He encourages attendees to show appreciation for maintainers through gratitude and positive feedback, highlighting that acts of kindness can greatly uplift community morale. Koch concludes with an affirmation that open source work can be fulfilling and energizing when aligned with personal motivations. He encourages maintainers to adopt strategies that preserve their passion for open source, rather than succumbing to stress and guilt associated with unfulfilled expectations. Overall, his key message is to prioritize personal well-being and clarify roles within open source communities to foster healthier contributions.
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