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Incubating With An Open Source Foundation

Incubating an open source project within a foundation offers numerous benefits which includes increased visibility, community support, and access to resources that can propel your project to new heights.

Through following these steps, you will learn how to navigate the process effectively, from defining your project goals to formalizing the incubation process. Whether you're a developer looking to make a meaningful impact or an existing project seeking further growth, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and strategies to successfully leverage a foundation for the incubation of your open-source project.

1. Define your Project Goals​

Clearly articulate the goals and objectives of your open-source project. Identify the problem you aim to solve, target audience, and the unique value proposition of your project. This clarity will help you convey the importance of incubating your project to potential foundation partners.

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2. Research Foundation Options​

Explore existing foundations that align with your project's vision and goals. Look for foundations that support projects in your domain and have a track record of successful incubation. Evaluate their governance model, community support, and resources they offer to their incubated projects.

This article focuses on the FINOS and Apache software foundations, but there are many more to choose from.

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3. Engage with the Community​

Build an active and engaged community around your open source project. Leverage your community management plan to encourage participation, collaboration and contributions from developers and other potential users. Create a space to have open discussions, mailing lists, and forums to demonstrate the project's potential and attract supporters.

4. Develop a Strong Project Governance​

Establish a governance model for your project that ensures transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability. Define clear decision-making processes, contribution guidelines, and code of conduct. A well-structured governance model demonstrates maturity and readiness for incubation.

Note: depending on which foundation you incubate your project with, there might be governance requirements from that foundation. However, getting your own house in order first is a key signifier of the maturity of your project and a good sign that it is a good candidate for incubation.

5. Prepare a Proposal​

Create a comprehensive proposal highlighting your project's goals, achievements, community engagement, and technical roadmap. Include information about the foundation you wish to be incubated under, and how your project aligns with their mission. Emphasize the potential benefits of incubation for your project and the foundation.

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6. Reach Out to the Foundation​

Contact the foundation and express your interest in incubation or partner with your open source community manager to start the connection. Share your proposal and request a meeting or discussion with the foundation's representatives or be a part of thier incubation discussions.

You will need to be prepared to present your project's vision, community engagement and future plans. Also be prepared to answer any questions or concerns the foundation may have and show your commitment to the foundation's values.

The approach to take for outreach varies from foundation to foundation:

  • For the Apache Software Foundation you will need a champion associated with the Apache organisation already to lead the proposal process.
  • For FINOS only finos members can propose new projects.

7. Formalize the Incubation Process​

If the foundation expresses interest in incubating your project, work with them to formalize the process.

This may involve:

  • Establishing mentorship relationships
  • Meeting any technical requirements (e.g. code quality, build, release procedures etc)
  • Meeting community requirements set by the foundation (e.g. demonstrating community interest, level and diversity of support)
  • Transferring repos (in GitHub, say) to a different ownership.
  • Using a foundation-mandated license
  • Using DCOs or CLAs when committing code.
  • Transfer of copyrights, patents or other IP to the foundation.
  • Formalizing governance (e.g. choice of maintainers, meeting structure, decision making processes)

Be prepared to collaborate closely with the foundation to ensure a smooth transition into the incubation phase.

The process of incubation may vary depending on the foundation and the specific requirements they have for incubated projects. Be open to feedback, adapt your proposal if needed, and maintain good communication throughout the process. Incubation provides valuable resources and support, helping your open-source project thrive and reach its full potential.