Building a Contributor Pipeline: Lessons from OpenTelemetry's 10-Week Cohort

OpenTelemetry is not just another open-source project; it’s a fully graduated status project within the CNCF, standing alongside Kubernetes as one of the most trusted initiatives in the ecosystem. This status reflects the importance of sustaining contributions to ensure the project's longevity and relevance. The 10-week contributor cohort, run by CNCF, the OpenTelemetry project, and Bloomberg’s Open Source Program Office, addresses the challenge of maintaining a vibrant contributor base.

The cohort involved 48 Bloomberg engineers who engaged in a structured contributor pipeline. They submitted a total of 118 pull requests (PRs) to the OpenTelemetry project, with 70 of those successfully merged into the global codebase. This effort spanned across 11 repositories, focusing on essential project maintenance and enhancements. Such a structured approach not only accelerates onboarding but also ensures that new contributors can make meaningful contributions quickly.

In production, this model is invaluable. It demonstrates how a well-organized contributor pipeline can lead to significant codebase improvements and foster a culture of collaboration. However, be aware that scaling this model requires careful planning and resources to mentor new contributors effectively. As the project grows, maintaining quality and coherence in contributions becomes increasingly challenging.