Jerry Thomas

Posted on Dec 12

Designed a Complete Hiring Platform But Can't Code - Help Me Build it open source.

#csharp #dotnet #programming #opensource

📖 The Story Begins...

There's something strange happening in the world of hiring software. Companies are spending $10,000 to $100,000 per year on ATS platforms that are:

· Closed-source (you can't see or modify the code)
· Locked-in (your data is held hostage)
· Slow to innovate (feature requests take years)
· One-size-fits-none (impossible to customize)

Meanwhile, applicants face:

· Clunky application processes (30+ minutes per application)
· Black holes (no feedback after applying)
· Repetitive data entry (same information over and over)

For months, I've been designing a solution. I've mapped every workflow, designed every feature, and created complete technical specifications. There's just one problem...

I don't write code.

That's why I'm launching UJAS Platform as an open-source project and inviting YOU to build it with me.

🎯 What is UJAS?

UJAS (Universal Job Application System) is what WordPress did for websites, but for hiring platforms.

The Vision:

A completely open-source, self-hostable hiring platform that any company can use, customize, and extend - for free.

The Twist:

I've designed 100% of the system - every workflow, every feature, every database relationship. But there are zero lines of code written. This is a blank canvas waiting for developers.

✨ Why This is Different

Traditional ATS (Greenhouse, Lever) UJAS Platform
Cost $10,000-$100,000/year FREE (self-hosted)
Customization Limited, expensive consulting Unlimited (it's your code)
Innovation Vendor decides roadmap Community-driven
Data Ownership Vendor controls your data You own your data
Exit Strategy Painful, expensive migration Zero lock-in

Planned Features That Don't Exist Anywhere:

QR Code Applications - Post a QR code anywhere, applicants scan and apply instantly
Real-Time Transparency - Applicants track applications like Uber rides
90-Second Apply - Pre-filled from profiles, no repetitive data entry
Custom Assessment Builder - Create tests, video interviews, coding challenges
Complete White-label - Your brand, not ours
Plugin Marketplace - Extend with community-built plugins

🏗️ The Current State: Complete Design, Zero Code

Here's what already exists:

✅ Complete Documentation:

· 50+ detailed workflow diagrams
· Complete API specifications
· Database schema designs
· User interface wireframes
· Technical architecture plans

✅ Project Structure:

ujas-platform/
├── docs/                    # 100% complete
│   ├── workflows/          # Every user journey mapped
│   ├── architecture/       # Technical specs
│   └── tutorials/          # Step-by-step guides
├── src/                    # EMPTY - waiting for you!
└── docker/                 # Infrastructure plans

✅ Community Foundation:

· GitHub repository (empty)
· Discord community (just started)
· Issue templates ready
· Contribution guidelines written

❌ What's Missing:

· Any actual code
· Developers to build it
· Your expertise

👥 Who We're Looking For

We Need EVERY Skill Level:

For Absolute Beginners:

· Never written code before? Perfect!
· Start with documentation fixes
· Learn Git/GitHub basics
· Work on simple HTML/CSS
· Get mentorship from experienced devs

For Junior Developers:

· Build basic features with guidance
· Learn modern .NET 8 architecture
· Get code reviews from seniors
· Build your portfolio

For Senior Developers:

· Design system architecture
· Implement complex features
· Mentor junior developers
· Lead feature teams

For Everyone Else:

· UI/UX Designers - Create beautiful interfaces
· DevOps Engineers - Set up infrastructure
· Technical Writers - Write documentation
· QA Testers - Ensure quality
· Community Managers - Build our community

💡 Why You Should Join (Seriously)

Build Your Portfolio with Real Impact

This isn't another tutorial app. UJAS will be used by real companies hiring real people. Your code will have actual impact.

Learn Modern .NET 8

We're building with:

· .NET 8 (latest LTS)
· ASP.NET Core MVC & Web API
· Entity Framework Core
· Clean Architecture/Onion Architecture
· Microservices-ready design

Get Mentorship & Community

· Pair programming with experienced developers
· Weekly code reviews
· Office hours for questions
· Supportive community Discord

Earn Recognition

· Founding Contributor status for early joiners
· Featured in our blog and social media
· Leadership opportunities as we grow
· Real references for job applications

Work on Cool, Unique Features

How many projects let you build:

· QR code scanning applications?
· Real-time application tracking?
· Custom assessment builders?
· Plugin marketplaces?

🚀 How to Get Started (5 Minutes)

Step 1: Join Our Community

Star the repository (helps others find us): GitHub Repo
Join Discord for real-time help: Discord Invite

Step 2: Pick Your First Task

We have tasks for ALL skill levels:

Absolute Beginner Tasks:

· Fix a typo in README.md
· Add emojis to documentation
· Test our setup scripts
· Create contributor badges

Beginner Developer Tasks:

· Create a simple API endpoint
· Build a basic HTML form
· Write unit tests
· Add validation to existing code

Intermediate Developer Tasks:

· Implement authentication system
· Design database tables
· Create frontend components
· Set up CI/CD pipeline

Advanced Developer Tasks:

· Architect the plugin system
· Implement real-time features
· Design microservices
· Lead a feature team

Step 3: Make Your First Contribution

# 1. Fork the repository
# 2. Clone your fork
# 3. Create a branch
# 4. Make your changes
# 5. Submit a pull request

We'll guide you through every step. No prior open-source experience needed.

🎯 Our First 30-Day Roadmap

Week 1: Foundation

· Set up .NET 8 solution structure
· Create basic authentication (ASP.NET Identity)
· Design database schema
· Set up CI/CD with GitHub Actions

Week 2-3: Core Features

· Applicant profile system
· Job posting management
· Application submission
· Basic dashboard

Week 4: Polish & Launch

· UI/UX improvements
· Documentation complete
· First beta release
· Community celebration

🏆 Contributor Recognition

We believe in celebrating every contribution:

Badge System:

🏆 Founding Contributor - First 10 PRs
🚀 Code Champion - 50+ PRs
🛡️ Quality Guardian - Consistent code reviews
📚 Documentation Hero - Docs contributions
🎨 UI/UX Master - Frontend improvements
🔧 DevOps Wizard - Infrastructure work

Monthly Recognition:

· Contributor of the Month featured in newsletter
· Twitter shoutouts for major contributions
· Virtual coffee chats with project leadership
· Swag packages for top contributors (when we have budget)

🤝 Our Community Values

Everyone is Welcome

No experience? No problem. We'll help you learn.

Progress Over Perfection

We'd rather ship imperfect code than write perfect code that never ships.

Mentorship Matters

Experienced developers commit to helping newcomers.

Transparent Decisions

All architecture decisions are discussed openly.

Celebrate Every Win

Every PR merged is a victory for the community.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I'm a complete beginner. Can I really contribute?

A: Absolutely! We have tasks specifically designed for absolute beginners. You'll get step-by-step guidance and a mentor to help you.

Q: How much time do I need to commit?

A: As little as 1 hour per week! Even fixing one typo in documentation is a valuable contribution.

Q: What if I get stuck?

A: We have an active Discord community, weekly office hours, and experienced developers ready to help. You won't be stuck for long.

Q: Is this a paid project?

A: This is open-source and community-driven. However, we may offer bounties for specific features, and there are leadership opportunities that could lead to paid roles as the project grows.

Q: What skills do I need?

A: We need all skills! Developers, designers, writers, testers, devops engineers, and community managers.

Q: How do decisions get made?

A: Transparently! We discuss in GitHub issues and Discord. I provide the vision and initial design, but implementation decisions are community-driven.

📊 The Numbers (So Far)

Metric Current Goal (30 Days)
GitHub Stars 0 500
Contributors 0 50
Issues Closed 0 100
PRs Merged 0 50
Features Shipped 0 5
Documentation Pages 25 50

We're starting from zero. Your first contribution could be our first merged PR.

💬 What Developers Are Saying

(These will be real quotes once we have contributors!)

"I joined as a junior developer and within weeks was leading a feature team. The mentorship is incredible." - Future Contributor

"Finally, an open-source project that's actually well-documented and organized from day one." - Future Senior Developer

"As a beginner, I was scared to contribute to open source. The UJAS community made it easy and welcoming." - Future First-Time Contributor

🚀 Ready to Make Your First Contribution?

Here's Your Action Plan:

Visit our GitHub: github.com/yourusername/ujas-platform
Pick any issue labeled good-first-issue
Comment "I'll take this!"
Join our Discord for help: Discord Invite
Submit your first PR (we'll help you through it)

First-Time Contributor Bonus:

The first 10 contributors get Founding Contributor status forever. Your name will be in the project history as one of the people who built it from nothing.

🎯 Why This Matters

This isn't just another open-source project. We're building: