Open Source Project

**dchw_dude** · February 12th, 2009, 04:47 PM

I have been trying lately to start a small open source project as a way for me to learn more practical programming concepts. The trouble is that any student developers I find for the project are non-comittal. We have one, maybe 2 meetings, and maybe one chunk of code uploaded. Then everyone vanishes.

I know since it is a side-project that we cant progress all that fast, but the level of activity on sourceforge definitely shows a lack of interest.

Any ideas on how to keep a programming team fired up? Should I just axe my old team and find a new one? What have you done to keep a team fired up?

**hrev0** · February 26th, 2009, 03:44 PM

Maybe your project is too ambitious, or its a project that not everyone is thrilled about?
Just throwing ideas out there.

**Rootstonian** · February 26th, 2009, 07:38 PM

Hi old friend

You are working on your undergrad degree, right? Are you thinking of pursuing a graduate degree (I STRONGLY suggest it in the current economy!!)? If so, maybe talk to one of your current professors and get some project ideas that could lead to Masters work/Thesis project. Find others who are going to Grad school.

**dchw_dude** · March 1st, 2009, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by hrev0

Maybe your project is too ambitious, or its a project that not everyone is thrilled about?
Just throwing ideas out there.

True. I have tried to make sure that everyone who says they want to help is actually interested in the project. But, understandably, it IS some boring programming(well, at least at first) . . . .

Originally Posted by Rootstonian

Hi old friend

You are working on your undergrad degree, right? Are you thinking of pursuing a graduate degree (I STRONGLY suggest it in the current economy!!)? If so, maybe talk to one of your current professors and get some project ideas that could lead to Masters work/Thesis project. Find others who are going to Grad school.

Yep. Two years left of ugrad stuff and then I will be able to go to graduate school. I also have my eyes on some elite schools for the masters in CS. Good idea for making it so it could turn into a Masters project. At my current university, we have to do whats called a "Capstone" project to receive our CS degree. The best thing I can compare it to is a a thesis/project for a masters degree, but a little more limited in scope as it IS undergrad work.

Thanks for both of your inputs . . . I am going to think a little and see how I can revamp what I am doing right now . . . keeping an eye for growth and learning opportunities. I will post back once I feel like I have a new and coherent plan for the project.

**jak** · March 4th, 2009, 09:01 PM

Can you give us the basics of it? Do you plan for it to be open source? What scripting languages and database backend are you planning on using, are you starting from scratch or starting with a framework technology (like cakephp, etc) and building from there? Perhaps if you get more exposure in places like this by drawing interest from those who have experience in the particular technologies you plan on using. Also, if you structure it you may be able to create a task list that (if open source) you can assign to individuals so it isnt detrimental to the overall project if someone messes up.