How to develop a successful IT project on GitHub?
In this article, our experts have prepared recommendations on how to create a successful IT-project on GitHub.
The components of quality Open Source project
1. Documentation
The documentation in GitHub is kind of manual in addition to the code. The more detailed it is written, the clearer third-party developer understands how to apply the solution. Thus, the more chances to get a Star, followers and "contributors. GitHub already has established guidelines on how to prepare the documentation properly.
2. Functionality
The code needs to solve a popular problem and, the important thing, — code should be reusable. For example, while creating our Android-library for Full Screen Image View, we took into account the mobile design trend, in this case — the accent on intuitive gestures. We had noticed that we were often faced with similar tasks in work. At the time there were no ready-made solutions in open source, that could match our request. It turned out — we were not the only one, who needed such solution, and the library became popular.
3. A number of bugs
Flawless code without bugs — a client’s dream and a nightmare of a QC specialist. In real life, 100% perfect code does not exist (at least, we’ve never seen it). If there’s a will, at least one bug will always be found. Still, the less number of bugs in your code, the higher chances to gain your audience. By the way, large companies, that are also on GitHub, will be grateful, if you find a bug in their products. Google, Facebook, Mozilla can even pay you a cash reward.
4. The quality of a code
The quality code can be characterized by the following parameters:
- The code should be written so, that in the future it can be easy to maintain and extend.
- The code should match accepted standards within the programming language.
- The code should be readable, structured. It is advisable to use existing design patterns because they describe solutions to some common situations encountered by the developers. If there are third-party libraries that fully meet your needs, it is better to use them than to reinvent the wheel.
- The quality code is tested, i.e. it can be trusted. If the functionality of application’s interface can be tested manually, the raw code is usually covered with unit tests (they look like a code, just checking the work of individual program’s pieces). In ideal, of course, to have 100% test coverage — it will protect your code from unexpected bugs during changes, but if the price of 100% code coverage is too high, it would be good to have test coverage at least on the key business logic.
- Also, when writing code, you should remember the DRY and KISS principles, they will help to make your code better.
A few words in favor of Continuous integration
Most of the code quality checks can be automated. Different programming languages have their own utility formatting standards, code duplication, complexity, forbidden constructions, etc. There are Also libraries for unit tests that simplify tests writing. Quality open source projects are configured with CI (Continuous integration) servers. Their work includes automatic runs all prescribed checks during every pull-request. If a pull request does not pass some verification, the user who sent it, may consider the reason and correct it in order to match the requirements of the repository. One of the most popular CI servers is TravisCI, you can connect it to your public repository for free.
5. Active support
If you post a new solution, be ready to get an active response from others. They might look for bugs, suggest changes or just monitor the project. A good rule is to respond to users activity. Project’s support, prompt critical errors’ correction and, of course, openness to change — keys to success. Developing new versions of the project is also a big plus in your penny bank.
6. License
Open Source — is open software. Speaking very broadly, all programs and materials, available on Github can be used for free, with a small caveat — if the license allows. Depending on the willingness to share and open up to the world, on GitHub you can choose a license type with a particular access, for example:
- The Unlicense — license without conditions, the open source basis, when the code is public domain. Such project will be available for operations, modifications and additions for everyone without exception;
- MIT — users can freely use the code and make suggestions, however, to respect the copyright is obliged. Such license use jQuery, .NET, Core and Rails;
- Apache 2.0 — in addition to the MIT, the license provides an express grant of patent rights. This license is used by Android, Apache and Swift.
There are also projects with a closed license — access to the data, in this case, have only a certain participants. The license for your project, you can pick up here.
Who you should sign up on GitHub, depending on your technology
Android
JakeWharton — an open source king in Android
dmytrodanylyk — GDE from Ukraine, developer of various popular Android libraries
googlesamples — examples of Google API usage
square, facebook — Leading companies who share their experience
Symfony/PHP
fabpot — Symfony's author
rlerdorf — PHP creator
sebastianbergmann — the author of PhpUnit-library
Seldaek — creator of Composer and various other libraries
javiereguiluz — one of active Symfony's contributors
Front end
AngularClass/awesome-angular — a list of Angular4 libraries
vuejs/awesome-vue — a list of libraries for Vue
yyx990803 — creator of Vue.js
addyosmani — Addy Osmani a very cool engeneer from Google
Current ranking of repositories by language (number of stars)
On the above links you can always find the latest data about the current repositories of technologies, that you are interested in.
Latest company updates you can watch here. Successful projects to you!