Open source runs the digital world, but it doesn't run itself.
Behind every project are people: maintainers, contributors, mentors, supporters. Too often, their work is unpaid, their time unprotected, and their contributions invisible.
We write this manifesto not in rebellion, but in recognition.
Recognition of the silent burnout, the quiet exits, and the invisible labor that hold this ecosystem together. Recognition of the long hours spent triaging issues and reviewing pull requests. Recognition of the quiet departures of those who burned out before they were ever celebrated.
Open source is not just code, it's community. And communities need care, clarity, and communication to thrive.
Maintainers are not customer support. They are builders, stewards, and mentors. They are not infinite inboxes for the internet.
Every contributor matters. But good intentions often fail without good onboarding. We lose thousands of potential collaborators every day to confusion, fear, and silence.
Sustainability is not a donation link. It's the recognition and reward of the full spectrum of work, not just commits, but code reviews, support, guidance, and emotional labor.
Communication is infrastructure. Yet we treat it like an afterthought. We expect clarity without context, kindness without boundaries, and response without rest.
This is not just inefficient. It's inhumane.
“People are hard. Code is easy. To write code, you have a right answer and you have a wrong answer. People relationships are hard….A lot of people seem to think that open source is about programming, but a lot of it is about communication too...but you have to be there all the time.”
Linus Torvalds
Open source is more than code. It's people.
And people need structure, support, and space to thrive.
We're building an organization that supports the humans behind the code with education, storytelling, and tools that make contribution more sustainable and more humane.
We tell real stories — of mainly the people behind open source, but also those beyond. Those who choose, build, maintain, contribute, and care for this ecosystem and beyond.
We back early-stage builders — including student founders, university OSS clubs, and small project teams through hands-on mentorship, community support, micro-grants, cloud credits, community, events, and resources to thrive in open source.
We experiment and build tools — AI-native (or not, who cares?) to reduce friction for contributors and maintainers alike.
We share resources — that educate and clarify the complex realities of open source through blogs and articles.
Not just another community space. Not just another chatroom. But a sanctuary for open source collaboration designed to serve the humans behind the code.
If you've ever contributed to open source or just used a tool powered by it (and trust us, you have!), you're already part of the story.
This is your place. This is your moment.
Let's build a better open source future together.