Bridging the Gap: Hug Reports in Open Source

Contributors to open source Software often feel overlooked and underappreciated. Many Users benefit from their work, but seldom take the time to express gratitude. This lack of appreciation can lead to frustration and burnout among contributors. Understanding this issue, we created a tool named Hug Reports to help users express their thanks in a meaningful way. This tool is designed to be used within code editors, making it easier for developers to show appreciation for the software packages they rely on.

#The Challenge of Appreciation

In the world of open source software, there is often a divide between those who create the software and those who use it. Users can benefit greatly from the contributions of these developers, but they seldom reach out to thank them. Many developers have reported that they receive far more complaints than compliments, leading to a negative atmosphere. This imbalance can affect their motivation and commitment.

When people do want to express their appreciation, they often face several hurdles. First, identifying the right person to thank can be complicated. Users have to navigate away from their development environment and search for contact information, which takes time and effort. Second, the existing channels for communication tend to focus on issues and feedback rather than gratitude. Lastly, when users do send appreciation, it can feel impersonal. This context leaves many contributors feeling unrecognized, which can worsen feelings of burnout in the long run.

#Introducing Hug Reports

Hug Reports is a simple system that aims to bridge the gap between users and contributors. It is integrated directly into code editors, allowing users to send thanks easily while they work. The goal is to make expressing appreciation as seamless as possible, thereby encouraging a positive feedback loop between users and contributors.

#How It Works

The Hug Reports system consists of two main components: an extension for the Visual Studio Code editor and an email notification system.

1. In-Code Button: When a user opens a file that uses specific software packages, a button appears next to each line of code that connects to these packages. Clicking this button allows the user to send a quick thank you message, acknowledging the work done by the contributors. Users can also include a personal note if they wish, giving them a chance to express their gratitude in a more detailed manner.

2. Email Notifications: After three weeks of use, the system compiles all the thanks messages and sends notifications to the contributors. Each email highlights what the user appreciated in their code and may include any personal notes the user added. This creates a direct line of communication between the users and the contributors, allowing for more meaningful exchanges.

#User Study

To evaluate how effectively Hug Reports promotes expressions of appreciation, we conducted a user study with 18 developers. They were asked to use the Hug Reports extension over three weeks and share their experiences.

#Participant Demographics

The participants varied in background, including different genders, ages, and experience levels with programming. We ensured that all participants were seasoned users of the Visual Studio Code editor, as this was the platform on which Hug Reports would be deployed.

#Findings

During the study, we gathered information on how often users clicked the thank you button and the type of messages they sent. We also examined how contributors reacted to receiving appreciation through the system.

#Engagement with the Extension

• Participants logged a total of 107 thank you messages, with most clicks occurring at import statements near the top of the code files.
• Many users expressed that the button served as a helpful reminder of the contributions made by others, saying it made them more aware of the people behind the code.

#Reaction from Contributors

• The feedback from contributors was overwhelmingly positive. Many noted that receiving thanks brightened their day and made them feel more connected to the users of their software.
• Some contributors expressed a desire for more personalized messages. They found generic thank you notes less meaningful and wanted to know more about how their work impacted the users.

#The Importance of Timing

Our findings indicated that users tended to express their gratitude during specific moments:

• Transitions: Many participants reported thanking contributors during moments of transition in their work. For instance, when opening a new file or switching tasks, users felt more reflective and willing to send thanks.
• Discovery: Users also often expressed gratitude after successfully using a particular feature for the first time. Once they found value in a package, they felt inclined to share their appreciation.

#Dual Meanings of Appreciation

The messages sent through Hug Reports often carried two meanings for both users and contributors:

1. Utility of Software: Many users interpreted their thanks as a way of signaling the usefulness of the software. Contributors appreciated this feedback, as it validated their efforts and showed their work had a direct impact.

2. Expressive Communication: For many users, sending thanks was also an emotional gesture. They wanted to express their gratitude in a way that felt personal. However, some users struggled to articulate specifics about what they appreciated, which led to more generic messages.

#Limitations and Opportunities

While Hug Reports provided an effective way for users to express appreciation, it also highlighted limitations in individual recognition. Contributors tended to feel they deserved thanks only if they felt significantly involved in the project. This raises questions about how to balance collective recognition with individual acknowledgment.

Despite these challenges, our study showed that having a system for expressing gratitude is beneficial. It can encourage more people to engage with open source projects and foster a sense of community among developers.

#Suggestions for Improvement

Several ideas emerged from the study that could further enhance the Hug Reports system:

• Nudges: Users suggested having visual indicators that remind them when to express appreciation, such as pop-up notifications when they start using a package.
• Personalization: Contributors expressed a desire for more personalized messages. Adding prompts or examples could help users articulate their appreciation better.

#Conclusion

Hug Reports presents a practical solution to the problem of expressing appreciation in the open source community. By integrating a simple communication tool into code editors, we can help forge a more positive relationship between users and contributors. The positive feedback from both groups highlights the potential for such systems to transform the atmosphere in open source software development.

By promoting appreciation, we can encourage contributors to continue their valuable work, reducing the risk of burnout and disengagement. Further research and development can make these systems even more effective, helping to build a supportive and connected community in the world of open source software.