In a constantly changing environment, the ability of *design systems* teams to adapt and innovate is crucial. The maintainers of *open-source* projects reveal bold strategies that can transform these systems into true engines of productivity. Their experience shows us how to develop internal libraries that not only optimize workflows but also generate enthusiasm and engagement among developers. Their lessons, drawn from years of practice, provide valuable insights on how to maximize the impact and sustainability of design tools within modern organizations.
*Design systems* teams can learn valuable lessons from open-source maintainers. First, it is essential to choose a model and understand its trade-offs. Some adopt a centralized approach while others favor broader contributions, each model having its own advantages and disadvantages.
Secondly, it is crucial to prioritize maintenance and restrict uncontrolled feature expansion. Preventing the burnout of maintainers is key to effective systems.
The third lesson is the importance of documentation. Clear and abundant documentation increases the quality of contributions and facilitates onboarding for new users.
Fourthly, it is essential to clearly define the values and goals of the project, which can improve engagement and understanding among stakeholders.
Finally, teams must become advocates for their own work by communicating effectively and ensuring that their work is well understood and adopted within the community.
adapt your model
*Design systems* teams often find themselves juggling between two extreme models: being the guardians of a strictly controlled codebase or the leaders of an evolving and organic community. Open-source maintainers are well aware of this duality and choose approaches suited to their situation. By drawing inspiration from them, you can better understand the trade-offs that a model will entail. Projects like Rust or Linux succeed because they have found a good balance between contributor growth and user development.
limit excessive expansion
Recently, the burnout of open-source maintainers has become a major issue. They often find themselves overwhelmed between maintaining existing functionality and developing new ones. Establishing clear limits and focusing on maintaining what already exists is crucial. Indeed, uncontrolled growth can lead brilliant ideas to complete abandonment. An illustrative example is that of major projects suffering from a lack of resources due to excessive expansion.
document extensively
Open-source maintainers have proven that documentation is the secret weapon for making a project scalable and appealing to potential contributors. When *design systems* teams focus more on crafting documentation than simply developing, they succeed in attracting more engaged contributors. Well-thought-out guides, accessible tutorials, and comprehensive reference documentation enable developers to integrate more easily and maximize the impact of their work.
