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Ask HN: Users offer to help with your non-OSS project. What do you do?

3 points by awt ↗ HN
One of my projects recently got some press. Some new users that signed up offered to help out with the project. It is not open source. I have no budget to pay anyone, and would like to maintain control over the project. How can I take advantage of these offers?

2 comments

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sophacles
Tell the truth: You are currently not set up to have him/her help, and further, you aren't sure yet what (s)he would be able to do to help out. Should the situation change, you will gratefully contact that person.
grobolom
Definitely tell them the truth. But if you're interested in having them help you out, talk with them and draw out a contract. You can guarantee control of the project, especially if you use some sort of VCS. But make sure you tell them the whole situation (lack of pay especially).