MikeMcQuaid

MikeMcQuaid / open-source-resistance

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🏴‍☠️ The Open Source Resistance Manifesto

ossresistance.com
18
1
100% credibility
Found May 20, 2026 at 18 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Summary

Open Source Resistance is a single-page manifesto website that argues software developers should fix problems in the open source tools their companies rely on during work hours—no approval needed. Created by Mike McQuaid, a well-known open source contributor (Homebrew project leader, GitHub Sponsors co-creator), this site builds on earlier initiatives like Open Source Friday and the Open Source Pledge but takes a more direct approach. The website presents the manifesto in a clean, readable format with thoughtful typography, inviting visitors to embrace a philosophy of proactive open source maintenance.

How It Works

1
💬 You hear about the Resistance

A friend mentions the Open Source Resistance idea at a meetup or you see it mentioned online.

2
🔍 You visit the website to learn more

Curious, you type in the web address and land on a simple, focused page with the manifesto.

3
📖 You read the manifesto

You discover the core message: maintainers should fix open source problems on company time, without waiting for permission.

4
🤝 You see how it connects to other efforts

The page explains this is the next step after Open Source Friday and the Open Source Pledge, but more direct.

5
You decide how to engage
📤
Share the message

You spread the word by sharing the website link with colleagues or on social media.

🔗
Explore the author's work

You click through to learn about Mike McQuaid's contributions to Homebrew and GitHub Sponsors.

🌱 You're part of the movement

You've discovered a philosophy that empowers developers to maintain open source software without bureaucracy.

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Star Growth

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AI-Generated Review

What is open-source-resistance?

This is a single-page manifesto site arguing that software maintainers should fix and improve the open source dependencies their companies rely on during work hours, without waiting for formal approval or corporate programs. Built with Jekyll and HTML, it hosts the "Open Source Resistance" message at ossresistance.com. The site includes a custom typography plugin that automatically converts straight quotes to smart quotes and applies proper apostrophe formatting. It's essentially a political statement wrapped in a static website.

Why is it gaining traction?

The manifesto taps into a real frustration: developers maintain critical infrastructure in their spare time while their employers benefit. Unlike polite initiatives like Open Source Friday or the Open Source Pledge, this one advocates direct action. The hook is the provocative framing: stop asking permission, start doing the work. It's a short, shareable read that resonates with anyone who's filed a bug report into the void or watched a critical library rot without maintenance.

Who should use this?

This isn't a library or tool to integrate. It's a reference point for open source maintainers who work at companies and want organizational cover for doing maintenance work. If you're a developer trying to convince your manager that fixing that dependency you rely on is legitimate engineering work, this manifesto provides rhetorical ammunition. It's also relevant for company leadership looking to understand why developers feel compelled to work on open source in secret.

Verdict

With only 18 stars, this is a niche political document rather than a living project. The 1.0% credibility score reflects that it's essentially one person's opinion site, despite the author's credible background. If you want to understand the philosophy behind "sneakernet" open source maintenance, read the manifesto. If you need a tool or library, look elsewhere.

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