Why Most People Quit

Understanding failure modes helps you avoid them.

Reason #1: Harsh Community

"I asked a question and got mocked"
"Maintainer was dismissive"
"Nobody helped me get started"
"I didn't feel welcome"

Prevention: Evaluate community before committing.

Reason #2: Unrealistic Expectations

"I thought I'd ship features in 1 week"
"Turns out I don't understand the codebase"
"Turns out there's politics I didn't expect"
"I expected immediate feedback"

Prevention: Start small. Manage expectations.

Reason #3: Wrong Project

"I thought I'd love this tech"
"But the codebase is a mess"
"Maintainers are hard to reach"
"The project direction bores me"

Prevention: Contribute before fully committing.

Reason #4: No Support

"I got lost and nobody helped"
"No documentation for setup"
"Questions went unanswered"
"I gave up"

Prevention: Pick projects with good communities.

Reason #5: Burnout

"I worked too much"
"Never felt I could say no"
"Pressure to keep going"
"Got exhausted and quit"

Prevention: Set boundaries from day one.

Reason #6: Life Happened

"Job got busier"
"School ramped up"
"Personal issues came up"
"Had to step back"

Prevention: It's okay. Come back when you can.

Prevention Checklist

• Contributed to 2-3 projects before choosing
• Know project community and culture
• Have realistic expectations
• Found supportive people
• Set boundaries early
• Know you can step back anytime

Quitting doesn't mean failure. Sometimes it means wisdom.