New Study Reveals Key Motivations Behind OSS Project Selection

Researchers from Deakin University and Monash University conducted a survey of 208 open source software (OSS) practitioners, analyzing how demographic factors influence project selection. The study, published on arXiv, found that age, gender, and OSS role significantly correlate with contributors' motivations. For example, younger newcomers prioritize mentorship and learning opportunities, while experienced practitioners focus on code quality and project reputation. Preferences for specific project characteristics—such as project age (active vs. mature), development stage (early vs. stable), and documentation quality—vary based on these motivations.

Crucially, the researchers analyzed newcomers and experienced OSS practitioners separately, revealing distinct needs that existing recommendation systems often overlook. Newcomers desire better filtering for beginner-friendly tasks and documentation, while veterans want indicators of project governance and activity. The study provides actionable insights for project owners to improve onboarding, engagement, and retention, and suggests that future recommendation systems should incorporate both motivation profiles and demographic context to better match contributors with suitable OSS projects.