From 17e7c2dc7cd57195dc3606d29c6bd108c3d19369 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Aakash Yadav Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2026 11:36:39 +0530 Subject: [PATCH] docs: add draft guidelines for what constitutes a community --- docs/community-guidelines.md | 51 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 51 insertions(+) create mode 100644 docs/community-guidelines.md diff --git a/docs/community-guidelines.md b/docs/community-guidelines.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a85a52a --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/community-guidelines.md @@ -0,0 +1,51 @@ +# What Constitutes a Community + +This document defines what is considered an acceptable “community” for inclusion +in the Open Source Communities Database (OSCDB). + +A **community** is a group of people who engage on an ongoing basis around a shared +interest, domain, or mission, with regular interaction and opportunities for +participation beyond a single project or event. + +These guidelines aim to ensure consistency and clarity when adding entries to the +database. + +--- + +## Inclusion Criteria + +A community SHOULD meet most of the following criteria: + +- Ongoing or recurring interaction (e.g., meetings, discussion forums, working groups) +- A shared purpose, interest, or practice related to open source +- A publicly accessible page describing the community and how to participate +- Participation that is broader than a single repository or codebase +- An identity that exists independently of a single event or organization +- Openness to new participants or contributors + +Examples of acceptable indicators include: +- Community websites or landing pages +- Publicly documented meetups or recurring events +- Open governance, working groups, or discussion spaces + +--- + +## Exclusion Criteria + +The following do NOT qualify as standalone communities and should not be listed: + +- Individual open source or proprietary projects +- Local or global conferences without an ongoing community structure +- Standalone Slack, Discord, Zulip, or IRC links without a dedicated community page +- Product- or vendor-driven proprietary software or hardware communities +- Marketing, recruitment, or brand-focused groups + +Chat platforms (Slack, Discord, etc.) may be linked **only as supplementary resources** +when there is a clear, dedicated page describing the broader community. + +--- + +## Notes + +These guidelines are intended to be iterative and may evolve as the Open Source +Communities Database grows and new community models emerge.