Summary
In this chapter, we addressed transitioning open source project leadership, looking first at why projects should consider succession planning as maintainers might be looking to change careers, getting ready to retire, or perhaps disappearing from the project itself. We then looked at building a plan for transitioning a project, including ensuring the project’s documentation is in order and building a full transition plan. Finally, we looked at how previous maintainers could step back comfortably and be supportive of the new maintainers.
Succession planning is hard for projects, not just because of the work required but because of the reality of our mortality. We never want to think of the day we step back from our work and hand it to the next person to take it forward. We might think the next person won’t do as good a job as we will. The reality is, that feeling is because we won’t know what to do once the work is on to the next person. But there’...