Open Source Launch Checklist: 127 Tasks for a Successful Release

TL;DR: Launching an open source project without a checklist is like deploying without tests. Here's the comprehensive 127-item checklist we used to launch AFFiNE to 33K+ stars.

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Why You Need This Checklist

Most open source launches fail not because of bad code, but because of bad preparation. After launching AFFiNE and helping dozens of projects launch, I've distilled everything into this actionable checklist.

Use this checklist to:

• Ensure nothing falls through the cracks
• Coordinate team efforts
• Maximize launch day impact
• Build sustainable momentum

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Phase 1: Pre-Launch (4-6 Weeks Before)

Repository Setup (15 items)

• [ ] README.md with compelling hero image
• [ ] Clear one-liner description (< 10 words)
• [ ] Quick start guide (< 5 minutes to first success)
• [ ] Installation instructions for all platforms
• [ ] Feature list with screenshots/GIFs
• [ ] Architecture overview (for technical users)
• [ ] CONTRIBUTING.md with clear guidelines
• [ ] CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
• [ ] LICENSE file (choose wisely: MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL)
• [ ] SECURITY.md for vulnerability reporting
• [ ] .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/ with bug/feature templates
• [ ] .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
• [ ] Badges (build status, license, version)
• [ ] "Good first issue" labels on starter tasks
• [ ] Sponsor button configured (if applicable)

Documentation (12 items)

• [ ] Getting started guide
• [ ] API documentation (if applicable)
• [ ] Configuration reference
• [ ] FAQ page
• [ ] Troubleshooting guide
• [ ] Migration guide (from competitors)
• [ ] Changelog (CHANGELOG.md)
• [ ] Roadmap (public or in discussions)
• [ ] Video demo (2-3 minutes)
• [ ] Blog post explaining "why we built this"
• [ ] Comparison page (vs alternatives)
• [ ] Use case examples

Marketing Assets (10 items)

• [ ] Logo in multiple formats (PNG, SVG, dark/light)
• [ ] Social media banner (Twitter, LinkedIn)
• [ ] Product screenshots (high quality)
• [ ] GIF demos of key features
• [ ] One-pager PDF
• [ ] Press kit
• [ ] Launch video script
• [ ] Twitter thread draft
• [ ] Reddit post drafts (3-5 subreddits)
• [ ] Hacker News submission title options

Community Setup (8 items)

• [ ] Discord server with channels organized
• [ ] Twitter/X account
• [ ] Dev.to organization page
• [ ] GitHub Discussions enabled
• [ ] Email list setup (for updates)
• [ ] Community guidelines posted
• [ ] Welcome message for new members
• [ ] Moderator team identified

Outreach Preparation (10 items)

• [ ] KOL list (50+ tech influencers)
• [ ] Newsletter list (10+ relevant newsletters)
• [ ] Podcast list (5+ shows that cover your space)
• [ ] Media contact list
• [ ] Personalized outreach templates
• [ ] Follow-up email templates
• [ ] DM scripts for Twitter outreach
• [ ] Partnership inquiry template
• [ ] Beta tester feedback collected
• [ ] Testimonials/quotes ready

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Phase 2: Launch Week (7 Days Before to Launch Day)

Final Checks (10 items)

• [ ] All links in README working
• [ ] Demo environment stable
• [ ] Quick start actually works (test on fresh machine)
• [ ] CI/CD pipeline green
• [ ] No embarrassing typos in visible places
• [ ] Analytics set up (website, repo insights)
• [ ] Error monitoring configured
• [ ] Support channels ready
• [ ] Team availability confirmed for launch day
• [ ] Backup plan if things go wrong

Content Queue (8 items)

• [ ] Twitter thread scheduled
• [ ] LinkedIn post ready
• [ ] Dev.to article drafted
• [ ] Reddit posts saved (don't schedule - post manually)
• [ ] Hacker News submission ready
• [ ] Email announcement drafted
• [ ] Discord announcement ready
• [ ] GitHub release notes written

Launch Day Timeline (12 items)

Morning (your timezone)

• [ ] Push GitHub release
• [ ] Post Twitter announcement thread
• [ ] Post to LinkedIn
• [ ] Submit to Hacker News

Midday

• [ ] Post to Reddit (stagger by 30 min)
• [ ] Send newsletter announcement
• [ ] Post in Discord communities
• [ ] Begin KOL outreach

Evening

• [ ] Follow up on comments (all platforms)
• [ ] Thank early supporters publicly
• [ ] Monitor for issues/bugs
• [ ] Document what's working/not working

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Phase 3: Post-Launch (Week 1-4)

Momentum Building (15 items)

• [ ] Respond to every GitHub issue within 24h
• [ ] Thank every new contributor
• [ ] Retweet/share community content
• [ ] Post daily updates on progress
• [ ] Address top feature requests publicly
• [ ] Ship quick wins based on feedback
• [ ] Write "lessons learned" post
• [ ] Submit to directories (Awesome lists, etc.)
• [ ] Reach out to "missed" KOLs
• [ ] Guest post on relevant blogs
• [ ] Record walkthrough videos
• [ ] Start documentation improvements
• [ ] Create contributor spotlight
• [ ] Plan first community call
• [ ] Set up regular changelog cadence

Product Hunt Launch (10 items)

• [ ] Wait 1-2 weeks after GitHub launch
• [ ] Find a hunter (or self-hunt)
• [ ] Prepare PH-specific assets
• [ ] Write compelling tagline
• [ ] Create 3-5 gallery images
• [ ] Record product video
• [ ] Prepare first comment
• [ ] Notify launch squad
• [ ] Schedule for Tuesday-Thursday
• [ ] Clear calendar for launch day engagement

Measurement (7 items)

• [ ] Track star growth daily
• [ ] Monitor traffic sources
• [ ] Record conversion rates
• [ ] Document viral loops
• [ ] Note which channels perform best
• [ ] Survey new users on how they found you
• [ ] Calculate CAC (if any paid promotion)

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Phase 4: Sustained Growth (Month 2+)

Community (10 items)

• [ ] Regular community calls
• [ ] Contributor rewards program
• [ ] Ambassador program
• [ ] Swag for top contributors
• [ ] Annual/quarterly roadmap reviews
• [ ] Feature voting system
• [ ] Office hours
• [ ] Hackathons
• [ ] Case study development
• [ ] Community-driven docs

Content Engine (10 items)

• [ ] Weekly changelog
• [ ] Monthly newsletter
• [ ] Quarterly "State of Project" post
• [ ] Tutorial series
• [ ] Comparison updates
• [ ] Integration guides
• [ ] Guest posts accepted
• [ ] Podcast appearances
• [ ] Conference talks
• [ ] YouTube channel

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Download the Full Checklist

Want this as a spreadsheet you can actually use? Get the complete Open-Source Project Integrated Marketing Action Manual which includes:

• ✅ This checklist as a trackable spreadsheet
• ✅ Timeline templates
• ✅ Outreach email templates
• ✅ Reddit post frameworks
• ✅ Product Hunt optimization guide

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Key Takeaways

1. Preparation > Execution: 80% of launch success is determined before launch day
2. Documentation is Marketing: Great docs reduce support load and increase adoption
3. Community is Everything: One engaged contributor > 100 passive stars
4. Momentum Matters: The first 48 hours set the trajectory
5. Iterate Fast: Ship improvements weekly, not monthly

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About the Author

I'm Iris, former cofounder & COO of AFFiNE (33K+ stars). Now I help developers and founders launch their open source projects globally.

More playbooks at github.com/Gingiris

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What's on your launch checklist that I missed? Share in the comments!