Beyond the README: Scaling OSS Projects Contribution with Conversational AI

The sustainability of many open-source projects is threatened by a steep learning curve for new contributors and overwhelming administrative loads on maintainers. This session explores a novel approach to mitigate these challenges. As a former Linux Foundation Decentralized Trust (LFDT) mentee, I will present a case study of an intelligent system I developed, born directly from the real-world onboarding issues I faced as a contributor. We will demonstrate how a conversational AI, integrated with a project's repository, can serve as an intelligent onboarding partner. Instead of navigating complex codebases alone, contributors can ask questions in natural language to understand development history and receive context-aware guidance. Attendees will learn how to design systems that lower the barrier to entry, automate routine tasks, and allow maintainers to focus on high-impact leadership.