This topic will continue to be expanded as further Zones are identified and constructed.
This topic is meant to convey the ideas and potential processes behind onboarding newcomers into SourceCred, and may eventually be used as a guideline for writing the “Getting Started” or “How to Get Involved” documentation/guides.
This topic welcomes concise overall feedback about things like which quests belong in which zones or ideas for additional quests/zones, but is not accepting #nit comments at this time.
What is the “Onboarding Machine”?
It is a semi-automated system (and eventually series of getting started guides) made up of “Zones”. Each Zone contains quests/how-tos which guide new contributors into our community in a moderately self-directed way with the end goal of teaching them how to be a SourceCred contributor. In each Zone there are a few “quests” for new contributors to complete. Completing the quests and going through each of the Zones in the Onboarding Machine should take a person from “I heard about SourceCred”, to “I’m a full fledged and knowledgeable contributor”.
These quests are not meant to be mandatory. The Onboarding Machine is simply meant to be an easily found structure/tutorial which can guide new folks into learning the skills needed for contributing in SourceCred, as well as giving time to build mutual trust between the new contributor and our community. If a new contributor finds that they do not need many of the beginning tutorials, it should be okay for them to skip ahead to where the information is relevant to their needs.
Defining Zone 1: Getting Connected to the Community
Zone 1 is the very beginning introduction to SourceCred. The audience it’s aimed at is those who have just found our community and know nothing about it, and potentially nothing about using platforms like Discord or Discourse.
This beginner Zone will show people how to get connected to our community with step by step “quests” or “tasks” that show newcomers how to join our platforms, where to start lurking to gain context, where to introduce themselves, and how to join a community call for the first time.
Zone 1 will be included in the Getting Started/How to Get Involved sections of the sourcecred.io docs, as well as the SignPost/Read.Me Discord Channel; as we are assuming that the Discord, and the website are the first platforms folks will find us at.
Zone 1 Quests/Tasks:
-
Join the SourceCred Discord: get connected to the platform where community conversation happens. (See guide: How to Join SourceCred’s Discord)
-
Check the SignPost Channel: here you’ll find links to the basic docs and resources which you can poke through to familiarize yourself with what SourceCred is about.
-
Check the SC Updates Channel: see at a glance how the project has been progressing, where it’s at currently, and it’s current large-scale goals. (may end up replaced with a roadmap deep dive? Not sure. We don’t have an easily navigable roadmap yet.)
-
Introduce Yourself: say hello and share a bit about who you are, your current project, and your passions on the “Introduce Yourself” discord channel.
-
Fill Out Your Contributor Profile: Fill out your profile and get added to our contributor database! You can also poke through the profiles of other folks whom you may be interested in working with. (profiles doesn’t exist yet, but someday it’ll be glorious!) (might go through the sorting hat quiz at this point?)
-
Come to a Community Call: think of a question to ask and let us get to know you and your brain a little over our weekly voice call. (See Guide: How to Join a Community Call)
-
Check Your New Cred-Score: take a moment to see that, wow! you already have some cred! (See Guide: How to check your cred) (a smooth interface for easily checking your score doesn’t exist yet?)
Defining Zone 2: Finding Context and Support
Hopefully Zone 1 has given folks the chance to get to know SourceCred, its active community, and the feeling that they know and understand the project better than they did before. Now it’s time to get our newcomers to start thinking about where they fit into the picture and what they may want to start contributing on.
Zone 2 focuses on guiding newcomers through the process of identifying what kind of work they want to be doing, which initiatives could use their help, and who they can lean on for support as they start to tackle the new experience of contributing to SourceCred.
Zone 2 Quests/Tasks:
-
Check the Task Ticker Channel: peak through the Task Ticker Discord channel to see a list of our current tasks, and the people championing them. This may help you identify which tasks in the project relate to your interests. (the “task ticker” is a Discord channel that has not been created yet)
-
Go through the Sorting Hat: take a small quiz that can help you discover and be directed to portions of the project you may be most interested in. (the “Sorting Hat” quiz does not exist yet)
-
Get an Ambassador: go to the Request Ambassador channel and let it be known that you want some help getting connected to your areas of interest. Your new ambassador will help you dive even further into why you’re interested in SC, where to start, connect you to contributors/champions/leads in the project, and help identify folks you can reach out to for support as you begin contributing. (this channel doesn’t exist yet, part of future discord reorg)
-
Connect with the Champion of your Task: get connected to the Champion directing the Initiative which you’ll be contributing to. This could be self directed, or facilitated by your Ambassador.
-
Start Your First Contributions - get started with contributing on the tasks/initiative that you, your ambassador, and your Champion have all agreed would be a great use of your time and skills.
Defining Zone 3: Becoming a Self-Directed Contributor
After completing Zone 2 our newcomer is not such a newcomer anymore! They’ve taken the time to get familiar with the project, have gotten connected to not just the community but also specific contributors (like Ambassadors and Champions) who can help answer their questions, make sure they’re happy, and guide them into contributing on their first Initiative.
Zone 3 is all about giving new contributors the time, space, and support to become confident in their work and their ability to navigate the norms and processes of SourceCred independently.
Zone 3 Quests/Tasks:
- Picking Up Additional Contributions:
- Joining A Team:
- Beginner Championing:
- Come to a Team Call: