Building in Public: The Power of Transparency

OpenIssue Team

The "build in public" movement is transforming how software companies connect with their users. OpenIssue makes it easy to join this trend and reap the benefits.

Why Build in Public?

Transparency isn't just a buzzword - it's a competitive advantage:

  • Trust - Users trust companies that show their work
  • Accountability - Public commitments drive follow-through
  • Community - Shared goals create loyal advocates
  • Feedback - Early input prevents costly mistakes

What to Share

Not everything needs to be public. Focus on:

Your Roadmap

Let users see where you're headed. When people can see planned features, they're more likely to stick around waiting for them.

Bug Fixes

Show that you're actively maintaining your product. Users appreciate seeing bugs get addressed, even ones they didn't report.

Feature Progress

Move issues through your workflow publicly. "In Progress" status gives users hope that their requests are being worked on.

What to Keep Private

Some things should stay internal:

  • Security vulnerabilities (until fixed)
  • Sensitive customer data
  • Internal team discussions
  • Unrealistic early-stage ideas

OpenIssue lets you choose exactly which issues to make public, keeping you in control.

Building Community Through Transparency

When users can see your development process:

  • They feel like part of the journey
  • They understand why some features take time
  • They become patient advocates rather than demanding critics
  • They celebrate wins alongside your team

Getting Started

Ready to build in public? Start small:

  1. Make your bug tracker public
  2. Share your upcoming features
  3. Move issues through statuses publicly
  4. Celebrate shipped features with your community

Start building in public →

Building in Public: The Power of Transparency | OpenIssue