HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Open-Source the Project and Run a Separate AMA Post

Open-Source the Project and Run a Separate AMA Post is a communities tactic for getting your first users: Followed the launch by open-sourcing the entire codebase and publishing a second "I open-sourced my AI comics site, AMA" post, squeezing a fresh wave of attention and goodwill out of the same project.

It's a strong fit for AI products and Dev tools / technical teams, and works especially well for Dev-facing or technically novel products. As a communities play, plan for medium effort and expect results to show up quickly, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

CommunitiesMedium effortFast

Why does communities work for this?

Developers reward open-source generosity with attention, stars, and shares, giving the project a second distribution moment.

The exact steps (5)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

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Sources

Works for
AI productsDev tools / technical

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Open-Source the Project and Run a Separate AMA Post" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for AI products and Dev tools / technical — pick it when your product looks like one of those, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Open-Source the Project and Run a Separate AMA Post" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is medium effort, and results tend to be fast.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

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