Community Engagement and the Lifespan of Open-Source Software Projects
Mohit, Kuljit Kaur Chahal
TL;DR
This study defines Community Engagement (CE) in Open-Source Software (OSS) as an ongoing, interactive process within a Community of Practice that mobilizes diverse stakeholders to build high-quality software and sustain the community. It operationalizes CE through four per-month metrics (TI/m, IC/m, WT/m, STR/m) and demonstrates a two-factor structure: Active Engagement (TI/m, IC/m) and Passive Engagement (WT/m, STR/m), validated via exploratory factor analysis and cross-validation. Across 33,946 repository samples and a broader 291,676-repo dataset, both CE dimensions positively correlate with project dynamics (commits, branches, releases), with stronger effects in highly engaged projects; age moderates these relationships, making active engagement more predictive as projects mature. CE and development activity also influence lifespan, with the highest per-month activity seen in younger projects and outlier long-lived projects maintaining exceptional engagement, suggesting early bursts or sustained engagement drive longevity. Overall, the work provides validated CE metrics and evidence that diverse community patterns shape OSS development trajectories and longevity, offering practical guidance for sustaining OSS ecosystems.
Abstract
Open-source software (OSS) projects depend on community engagement (CE) for longevity. However, CE's quantifiable impact on project dynamics and lifespan is underexplored. Objectives: This study defines CE in OSS, identifies key metrics, and evaluates their influence on project dynamics (releases, commits, branches) and lifespan. Methods: We analyzed 33,946 GitHub repositories, defining and operationalizing CE with validated per-month metrics (issues, comments, watchers, stargazers). Non-parametric tests and correlations assessed relationships with project dynamics and lifespan across quartiles. Results: CE metrics significantly associate with project dynamics, with stronger correlations in highly engaged projects. For lifespan, a complex pattern emerged: per-month CE rates are highest in younger projects, declining with age. Yet, a subset of long-lived projects maintains exceptionally high activity. Initial CE bursts appear crucial for establishment, while sustained high engagement drives extreme longevity. Active issue engagement's influence intensifies with age, but passive attention's declines. Conclusion: CE dynamically drives OSS project longevity and development. Our findings establish validated CE metrics and offer deeper insights into how diverse community activity patterns contribute to project longevity.