Zalando's README Template
A comprehensive guide and set of rules for open-sourcing projects, based on Zalando's internal practices and philosophy.
What is Zalando's README Template?
Zalando's Open Source Rules and Strategy is a comprehensive guide that documents the policies, processes, and best practices for publishing and maintaining open-source software projects. It provides organizations with a framework for ensuring project quality, security, compliance, and sustainability while protecting competitive advantages. The guide covers everything from initial publication approval to project deprecation, based on Zalando's extensive experience as a major technology company.
Engineering teams, open-source program offices, and organizations looking to establish or improve their open-source publication processes and governance structures.
This guide offers proven, battle-tested policies from a large-scale technology company, providing concrete rules and processes rather than just theoretical advice. It addresses real-world concerns like competitive advantage protection, license compliance, and sustainable project maintenance that many organizations struggle with when open-sourcing software.
Overview
Open Source guidance from Zalando, Europe's largest online fashion platform
Use Cases
Best For
- Establishing corporate open-source policies and governance
- Creating compliance checklists for open-source publication
- Understanding how to protect competitive advantage when open-sourcing
- Developing review processes for open-source project approval
- Managing license compliance and third-party component integration
- Building sustainable open-source project maintenance practices
Not Ideal For
- Small startups or agile teams needing lightweight, informal open-source processes
- Projects prioritizing rapid external community growth over internal compliance
- Organizations seeking up-to-date, actively maintained documentation
- Teams looking for technical implementation guides rather than policy frameworks
Pros & Cons
Pros
Outlines nine mandatory rules covering maintainers, documentation, licensing, and security, ensuring projects meet high standards before publication.
Includes a step-by-step approval workflow with security and competitive advantage reviews, minimizing legal and business risks based on Zalando's experience.
Provides a defined procedure for safely removing projects, including archiving and compliance checks, which is often overlooked in open-source governance.
Offers specific templates and advice for handling MIT licensing and third-party copyleft components, reducing legal overhead and ensuring compliance.
Cons
The README explicitly states it's deprecated and replaced by new documentation, so it may not reflect current best practices or Zalando's latest processes.
Requires emailing review groups, multiple approvals, and a six-month incubation period, which can be bureaucratic and slow for teams outside large corporations.
Tailored specifically to Zalando's internal structure, such as specific GitHub organizations and contact persons, making adaptation to other companies challenging without modification.
While it mentions engaging external contributors, it lacks detailed guidance on fostering and managing an open-source community beyond initial publication and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
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