TAKES · Hugo answers

Should we open source it?

Should we open source it?“Not until it has docs, tests and a CONTRIBUTING.md.”Hugo Demir, The Perfectionist

💡 WHY HUGO IS RIGHT

A public repository is a public promise. Outsiders cannot ask the person at the next desk how to configure it, so missing docs turn into hundreds of duplicate issues. Missing tests make every external contribution a gamble to review. Missing contribution guidelines mean every pull request starts with a negotiation. Two weeks of preparation decides whether the project builds a reputation or a backlog the team will be embarrassed by, in public.

✅ RIGHT WHEN

The project is meant to attract real users and contributors, not just to be visible.

🚩 TOO FAR WHEN

The before-we-publish checklist reached 40 items and the repo is still private a year later.

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