Devcon 8 India Community Hub Proposal: Open Source Builders Hub
Summary of Proposal
The Open Source Builders Hub is a four-day, hands-on immersive space designed to convert Devcon attendees from passive observers into active contributors to the Ethereum ecosystem. By providing a structured, mentored environment, the hub bridges the gap between interest and impact, ensuring that participants walk out with a merged pull request, a clear funding roadmap, or a newly forged partnership with an open-source maintainer.
Motivation and Rationale
The Ethereum ecosystem, particularly in India, faces a persistent “pipeline gap” where high-quality energy generated during hackathons often evaporates shortly after the event concludes. Promising prototypes are frequently abandoned because builders lack a clear path for ongoing maintenance, project governance, or sustained funding.
A Community Hub is the ideal format to address this because making a meaningful open-source contribution is rarely a 45-minute task. It requires a persistent space for environment setup, navigating complex codebases, iterative review cycles, and direct access to mentors. This multi-day approach allows attendees to start a contribution on Day 1 and see it through to completion by Day 4, embodying the “Open Source” pillar of the CROPS principles.
Core Programming & Activation Features
1. The Claim-a-PR Wall
A physical centerpiece consisting of cork boards featuring “Good First Issue” cards. Each card is color-coded by language and difficulty level, containing a QR code that links directly to the GitHub issue. Attendees can “claim” a card, bringing it to a mentor station to begin work and pair-program with experienced maintainers.
2. Opportunities Talks
Four daily 20–30 minute sessions mapping concrete career and contribution pathways within Ethereum. Topics include:
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Navigating Ecosystem Grants and Retroactive Public Goods Funding (RPGF).
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Understanding the Protocol Guild and core development pipelines.
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Building in public and sustaining a career as an independent maintainer.
3. Structured Entry Paths
The hub features signposted tracks to accommodate different experience levels:
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Track A (New to Tech): Focused on primers, glossaries, and the cultural ethos of open-source.
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Track B (Web2 to Web3): Tailored for experienced developers looking to map their existing skills to the Ethereum stack.
4. Mini-Workshops
Eight hands-on 45-minute coding sessions distributed throughout the week. These workshops cover practical skills such as setting up local testnets, writing effective documentation, and using advanced debugging tools for smart contracts.
5. Onchain Quiz Activations
To encourage continuous engagement, the hub will host four daily 20-minute quizzes. Each quiz features 20 questions regarding open-source history and technical best practices, with daily and aggregated leaderboards displayed on the hub screen.
We have executed similar activation during the RTD Workshops Edition: https://www.road2devcon.quest/
6. First Contribution & Identity
The journey culminates in a “Merge Celebration.” Contributors who successfully submit their first PR receive an onchain EAS (Ethereum Attestation Service) attestation as a permanent record of their contribution. They also receive a physical Polaroid keepsake to pin to the hub’s “Wall of Fame” or take home.
Implementation
The Open Source Builders Hub requires a specialized physical layout to support high-intensity developer work:
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Adopt-an-Issue Wall: Two large cork boards for physical issue cards and progress markers.
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Connectivity: A dedicated Ethernet line is essential for reliable code deployment; we will provide local routers to share access among concurrent laptop users.
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Power: Multiple high-capacity power strips to support ~30 concurrent laptops.
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AV & Display: One large LED TV for live code walkthroughs, PR reviews, and the quiz leaderboard.
Audience & Team
The hub is designed for first-time contributors, hackathon alumni, and existing OSS maintainers looking to recruit new talent. We are particularly focused on engaging builders from India’s regional developer communities.
The hub is organized by a coalition of independent communities and is committed to being strictly marketing-free and vendor-neutral.
Core Team
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Shankar Warang: Responsible for overall programming and coalition management.
https://x.com/WarangShankar
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Kanishak Chaurasia: Responsible for curating the beginner-issue database and mentor coordination.
https://x.com/dappdost
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Bhawna Chauhan: Managing on-site logistics and participant experience.
https://x.com/pixawna
Proof of Work
Our proposed team (consisting of 3 different teams) has organized over 100 builder events across India, engaging thousands of developers and facilitating hundreds of project prototypes. We bring the operational muscle and the community relationships necessary to staff an engaging space for four full days.
The notable events previously hosted can be seen here: