The Public Participation Profile Lifecycle

Public participation profiles evolve over time through a structured lifecycle.

Phase 1: Initial Participation

Start with minimal disclosure:

• Create basic pseudonymous identifier.
• Commit to project values.
• Define general skill areas.
• Elide information that is too private; and/or
  • Create evidence commitments for future usage.
• Offer small initial contributions.

This phase establishes basic presence with minimal privacy risk.

Phase 2: Contribution Validation

Build trust through validated contributions:

• Contribute solutions relevant to the project.
• Test implementations of project features.
• Offer specific technical skills with evidence.
• Provide work samples that can be evaluated on merit.

This phase demonstrates capabilities without revealing background.

Phase 3: Reputation Development

Strengthen trust through peer relationships:

• Consistently contribute to project.
• Deepen engagement within safe boundaries.
• Reveal commitments to specific individual as trust progresses; and/or
  • Remove elisions.
• Target endorsements from community members.
• Request collaboration attestations showing teamwork.
• Incorporate endorsements and attestations into profile.
• Create trust networks among peers.

This phase establishes community trust while maintaining privacy.

Phase 4: Role Expansion

Take on greater responsibility based on earned trust:

• Offer leadership in specific domain areas.
• Expand decision-making authority.
• Provide mentorship to newer contributors.
• Take on component ownership or maintenance.

This phase leverages established trust for greater impact.

Phase 5: Profile Updates

Engage in logistical updates of profiles as necessary.

• Change goals or values.
• Add self-attestations for experience.
• Remove or rotate keys.
• Revoke profile.

Best Practices for Participation Profiles

1. Start Minimal: Begin with the least amount of disclosure needed for initial contribution.
2. Focus on Evidence: Emphasize verifiable work rather than credentials or background.
3. Collect Targeted Endorsements: Gather attestations specific to relevant skills and contexts.
4. Use Elision Strategically: Create context-appropriate views for different interactions.
5. Update Progressively: Add information gradually as trust develops.
6. Maintain Context Separation: Use different profiles for different domains if necessary.
7. Document Boundaries: Clearly communicate what information you will and won’t share.
8. Establish Verification Methods: Define how others can verify your contributions
9. Build Consistent Patterns: Establish recognizable work patterns without revealing identity
10. Consider Recovery Options: Plan for key management and profile recovery