Unmaintained dependencies
Research Question
Why is this important to answer?
The reliance on FOSS raises concerns about the sustainability and security of its digital infrastructure, often maintained by volunteers. FOSS abandonment poses a risk as maintainers may disengage for various reasons. Current sustainability efforts focus on keeping projects alive, but attention is needed on effective sunsetting strategies. Research shows that abandoned FOSS projects are common, and users often switch to better-maintained alternatives. A proactive approach is proposed, offering warnings for unmaintained dependencies and suggesting alternatives. Existing tools are emerging, but the challenge lies in making them useful without overwhelming users with notifications. Further usability research is needed to understand how developers prioritize updates and design tools that require minimal manual configuration.