Open source has a problem.
Newcomers despair as experienced devs snap up all the open issues. Maintainers spend more time in administration than improving their code. Projects that have received grants struggle with contributors who grab quick rewards then disappear.
We've seen this firsthand during our remarkable growth this past year - especially with our ODHacks. Growing from 30 to over 400 participants per event is a testament to the incredible momentum we've built together.
But with this success comes new challenges.
While they currently affect less than 10% of our community, we're acting now - because when you're growing fast, small issues can quickly become big ones.
The anticipation and excitement around these events have grown enormously - which is fantastic! But it's also revealed patterns we need to address before they become systemic.
We've listened. We’ve learned. And now, we're doing something about it. After a year of encouraging collaboration and watching our community grow, we're ready to shake things up. Not with small tweaks, but with fundamental changes that matter.
And we want you to be part of this - starting with a beta test during our next ODBoost, where your feedback will be highly valued.
A new way to reward: Grants will now be distributed retroactively based on meaningful contributions, starting with the Starknet and Stellar ecosystems.
ODHack is now ODBoost: Same community spirit, but now focused on deeper project involvement instead of just individual issues.
Why the change?: To inspire ongoing participation beyond our monthly ‘ODHack’ week and build a more engaged open-source community.
The Reality Check
Our growth has magnified certain challenges during our monthly open-source week (ODHacks):
- Contributors prioritizing quick rewards over meaningful impact
- Experienced developers claiming issues faster than newcomers
- As numbers grow, identifying quality contributors becomes key
- Manual grant processes creating bottlenecks that worked for a smaller community
While these issues affect only a small portion of our community today, we're acting now to ensure they don't grow with us. The first step? Rethinking how grants are distributed to encourage ongoing contributions.
A new way to reward
The old way reached its limits.
Until now, budgets from ecosystems were manually sent to projects, and maintainers decided how to distribute them. While this gave flexibility, it often led to delays for contributors and added pressure on maintainers to manage rewards fairly—on top of their existing workload.
It also attracted “bounty hunters” - contributors who grabbed rewards and vanished.
We believe there has to be a better way.
Starting now, grants will be distributed retroactively and automatically every month. No more manual processing. No more arbitrary decisions. Just fair, impact-based rewards that work for everyone.
For projects
Your community-building efforts will directly drive your grants according to:
- How many overall contributors you onboarded
- How many new contributors joined from outside the ecosystem
- How many new contributors participated in your project that hasn’t before
Maintainers, these grants are for you and your project. They are to be used to support your efforts. Of course, if you have outstanding contributors you'd like to reward, you can do so.
For contributors
Your rewards will reflect your real impact, beyond just the ‘ODBoost’ week:
- Monthly distributions based on meaningful activity
- The quality of your PRs
But what does this mean for the ODHacks?
While we’re making changes, the heart of ODHacks—the collaboration, learning, and community spirit—remains the same. What’s changing is the name to avoid confusion: ODBoost.
ODBoost will continue to be your opportunity to:
- Explore projects.
- Connect with maintainers.
- Build your skills.
However, we’re shifting the focus from individual issues to deeper project involvement. This means you’ll have more opportunities to understand the bigger picture, contribute meaningfully, and stay engaged beyond the week-long event.
Why this matters
This isn't just a system update – it's about building a better open-source future. One where:
- Quality contributions trump quick fixes
- New contributors have real opportunities
- Maintainers can focus on what they do best
- Long-term engagement are valued
We've grown together over the past year. Now, let's take open source to the next level. As usual, we're all ears to this new test, so don't hesitate to talk to us.