Carly Simon once sang, “You’re so vain, you probably think this song’s about you.” And honestly, if you think Joomla is about you, then yes — this blog is about you. Vanity Has No Place in a Community Project Like Joomla.
Open source is a strange and wonderful space. Brilliant volunteers build incredible tools, occasionally argue about tabs vs. spaces, and somehow keep a global project alive through passion (and caffeine). And then there are those who treat Joomla like their personal fame generator.
So, in the spirit of Carly Simon (and with the sarcastic energy of someone who has attended more Joomla meetings than any human should reasonably endure), here’s why vanity has absolutely no place in a community-driven project like Joomla.
Collaboration ≠ Your Personal Highlight Reel
Joomla is powered by collaboration — actual collaboration. Not the version where someone arrives, declares “I’ve got this,” disappears for months, and then re-emerges just in time to claim credit for work someone else actually finished.
If your contribution philosophy is “If I didn’t do it, it doesn’t count,” you’ve missed the point entirely. Joomla isn’t a stage; it’s a workshop. Bring tools, not ego.
“Worship Me” Is Not a Joomla Value
Joomla’s values include freedom, equality, trust, community, and transparency. You may notice the absence of:
- Ego
- Prestige
- “Look how clever I am!”
- Dramatic speeches about how the project would collapse without you
If you’re here for personal branding rather than community building… perhaps consider pottery. Pottery is wonderfully agreeable and always gives you full credit.
Minimal Viable Bureaucracy
Open-source governance requires fairness, clarity, and just enough structure to prevent chaos.
Add vanity, and suddenly every decision becomes a performance:
- Rules rewritten on a whim
- Meetings turning into unwanted TED Talks
- Leadership becoming a personal spotlight rather than community stewardship
If you think becoming a team lead makes you Joomla’s Supreme Commander… then think again as it really doesn’t.
The Community Is Not a Supporting Cast
Joomla survives because volunteers donate their time and expertise. Nothing destroys morale faster than someone who performs 5% of the work but claims 200% of the credit.
If your primary contribution is publicising your contributions, then "Houston we have a problem".
Joomla’s Mission Is Not Your Brand Strategy
Joomla’s mission is to provide a free, flexible platform for digital publishing. It is not here to serve as:
- A launchpad for personal fame
- A content farm for inspirational LinkedIn posts
- The backdrop for your “Open Source Journey™” documentary
If your main contribution is self promotion then consider contributing code instead.
Vanity Erodes Trust
Open source relies on trust:
- Trust that decisions are made openly
- Trust that credit is shared fairly
- Trust that no one is hoarding information in a digital ivory tower
Vanity disrupts all of that. It clouds judgment, breeds conflict, and turns collaborative spaces into ego arenas.
Ego Burnout Is Still Burnout
Some refuse to delegate because “only I can do it right”. This translates to “only I can collect the praise.”
If you’re doing everything yourself, you’re exhausting yourself, blocking others, and harming the project… all while falsely believing you’re saving it.
Open Source Is a Community, Not a Catwalk
Open source thrives on humility, shared purpose, and the wild notion that we build better things together than alone.
If you want to help, fantastic. If you want applause, theatres exist. Go and be an actor.
Joomla doesn't have a red carpet. No one is here to watch you preen and strut.
You’re So Vain… But Joomla Doesn’t Have to Be
Carly Simon might say, “You’re so vain, you probably think this blog’s about you.” And if you’re feeling personally attacked? Then yes, you probably are.
But here’s the good news: Joomla succeeds when we drop the ego, share the work, share the credit, and welcome new contributors rather than intimidating them.
Vanity divides. Community builds. Joomla depends on choosing the latter.
