On-Demand Webinar – How to Build Open-Source Projects That Last in 2026
Discover what it takes to build sustainable open-source projects from developers who've done it. Join Jesus Manuel Olivas and Omar Aguirre as they share honest insights from their experience building Drupal Console and other open source projects.
Watch Below!
What You’ll Learn in This Webinar
Building successful open-source projects requires more than writing good code. In this session, Jesus Manuel Olivas and Omar Aguirre share the lessons they've learned from building Drupal Console (with over 15 million downloads) and other open-source contributions, covering what works, what doesn't, and how to build projects that last.
What We Cover
- 1
Examining Your Motivations
Understand why starting with the right motivation matters more than community recognition, when solving your own problems creates better projects, and how to know if you have the right temperament for open source work.
- 2
Treating Your Project as a Product
Discover how to understand your users and their needs, what documentation actually matters for adoption, how to gather meaningful feedback, and when to say no to feature requests.
- 3
Evaluating Sustainability
Learn the real costs of maintaining open source projects, how to build services around your projects, why most open source projects fail to achieve sustainability, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
- 4
Navigating Community Dynamics
Get insights on handling inner circles and politics, managing egos and conflicting priorities, knowing when to delegate versus when to let go, and dealing with takers versus makers in the community.
Why Watch?
Real Open-Source Experience
Hear from developers who built projects with millions of downloads, including the challenges they faced, decisions they made, and lessons learned from both successes and setbacks.
Evidence-Based Analysis
Move beyond idealistic views to understand the practical realities of maintaining open source projects, including time commitments, burnout risks, and actual paths to sustainability.
Strategic Decision-Making Framework
Learn how to evaluate whether open source makes sense for your project, set clear boundaries, and build sustainable practices that work with your life and career.
Community Management Insights
Gain practical guidance on building communities, onboarding contributors, and navigating the complex dynamics of open-source ecosystems.
Who Should Watch?
This on-demand webinar is designed for developers and technical leaders considering or already working on open source, including:
- Developers: Get realistic insights into what it takes to start and maintain an open source project, from initial motivation through long-term sustainability and community building.
- Development Team Leads: Discover how open-source contributions can enhance team skills, build technical reputation, and create value while understanding the real commitments involved.
- CTOs: Understand the strategic implications of open-source contributions, from building technical authority to evaluating when open-source investments deliver genuine business value.
- Startup Founders: Learn how to leverage open source for building credibility and community while balancing the demands of growing a business.
About the Presenters
Meet our founders, who will be sharing their real-world experience building open-source projects that have been downloaded millions of times.
Omar Aguirre
CTO & Co-Founder at Octahedroid
Omar has been contributing to open source since early in his career, including co-creating Drupal Console and Drupal Decoupled. His hands-on experience building tools and frameworks that help developers work more efficiently provides a valuable perspective on the technical and personal aspects of sustainable open-source development.
Jesus Manuel Olivas
CEO & Co-Founder at Octahedroid
Jesus brings extensive experience building open source tools, including Drupal Console, which has over 15 million downloads. His practical approach focuses on solving real developer problems and building sustainable projects that deliver genuine value to their communities.
Moderator: Flavio Juarez
Content Strategist at Octahedroid
Flavio shapes the content that brings Octahedroid's services and value to life for CTOs, business managers, and technical teams, sparking valuable and relatable discussions to help them thrive in their offerings to their clients and audiences.
