the rust project has a burnout problem
a day ago
- The Rust project faces a severe burnout problem, with many maintainers leaving or nearing burnout.
- Burnout follows a cycle: new contributors struggle to find mentors, take on heavy workloads, and feel personally responsible for project progress.
- Key burnout drivers include the belief that work won't get done without personal effort and the need to review everything to prevent mistakes.
- Contributors are advised to prioritize self-care, avoid unpaid overtime, and treat paid Rust work as a regular job.
- Team leads should rotate responsibilities, document burnout solutions, and ask why people leave to address cultural and organizational issues.
- The project should treat burnout as a priority, focusing on team growth and a healthy environment over technical issues.