More than meets the pull request: maintainers talk contributions

Creating and maintaining open-source projects can be likened to hosting an unpredictable party, where the initial excitement can quickly turn into challenges of managing contributions and maintaining project integrity. Experienced maintainers like Mike Bayer of SQLAlchemy, Thea Flowers from Winterbloom, and Jordan Harband, a TC39 delegate, share insights on evolving from eager acceptance of contributions to a more discerning approach that emphasizes communication, understanding project vision, and ensuring quality through tests and documentation. They highlight the importance of community engagement, setting clear guidelines, and leveraging platforms like Discord to foster diverse contributions beyond code, such as documentation and project management. The maintainers also discuss strategies to attract and retain contributors, emphasizing the need for automation, clear expectations, and patience while navigating the complexities of open-source collaboration. Ultimately, they advocate for a balanced approach to contributions, recognizing the responsibility maintainers have in guiding and sustaining their projects, while also acknowledging the challenges of integrating external input into a cohesive and sustainable product.