The Ultimate Guide to Building Open Source Apps
Everything You Need to Know to Start and Succeed in Open Source Development
Open source development sounds exciting, but it can also feel like stepping into a minefield.
What if someone misuses your code? What if maintaining it becomes a burden?
Let’s break it down step by step, so it feels less overwhelming and more like something you can actually pull off.
1. Choose the Right License
The license decides how others can use your code.
MIT License: Do whatever you want, but credit me. Perfect if you don’t care about keeping the code open forever.
GPL License: If you use my code, you must share your changes. Great if you want to build a true community of contributors.
Apache License: Like MIT, but with patent protection. Handy if there’s tech that needs legal safety.
Pick one that matches how much freedom you want others to have.
2. Set Up Your Project
Your open source app needs structure.
Here’s what to include:
README.md: Explain what your app does and how to use it.
CONTRIBUTING.md: Add clear steps for others who want to help.
LICENSE: The file that outlines your chosen license.
This makes your app easier to understand and contribute to, even for beginners.
3. Protect Your Work
Use version control platforms like GitHub to track changes and avoid accidents.
Lock your main branch so no one can mess it up.
Add testing to make sure your app doesn’t break when people submit changes.
GitHub Actions or CircleCI can automate this for you.
4. Balance Free and Paid Features
Open source doesn’t mean everything has to be free.
Keep the basics free to attract users and contributors.
Offer advanced features as paid add-ons, like plugins or integrations.
This way, you can monetize without limiting access to your app.
5. Handle Security Like a Boss
Sensitive data, like API keys, should go in .env files.
Exclude these from your repo using .gitignore.
Keep dependencies secure with tools like Dependabot or Snyk.
Create a plan for what you’ll do if something goes wrong, like a breach.
6. Turn Supporters into Sponsors
GitHub Sponsors lets you earn financial support directly through your profile.
With a “Sponsor” button on your repositories, users and organizations can fund your work, helping you sustain and grow your open-source project.
You can set funding goals, offer perks for sponsors, and show appreciation to keep them engaged.
It’s a simple way to monetize your efforts while building a stronger community around your app.
Get started here: GitHub Sponsors.
Why It Matters
Open source isn’t just about sharing your work.
It’s a way to build community, get feedback, and even monetize your app.
When done right, it can amplify your impact while keeping things sustainable.
What I’ve Been Up To
I’ve been diving deep into making app building faster, especially around pricing and email workflows.
It’s so repetitive that I created a course on handling each:
Despite all the progress in app-building tools, pricing usage remains a bottleneck.
I’m working on an open-source solution that integrates Stripe and Supabase to simplify this process.
Imagine just adding your API keys and having everything—pricing plans, usage tracking, and management—handled for you.
It’s been a grind, but I think I’ve cracked it.
Learn it, to make it!
Cheers!