Effective date: March 28th, 2026
Applies to: GitHub organization - Discord Server
Introduction
Octovel is a non-profit, volunteer-run open-source project dedicated to creating lightweight and reliable developer tools. Contributors, maintainers, and users from various backgrounds and skill levels make up our community, which is spread across GitHub repositories and a Discord server. These guidelines define the standards of conduct expected from every member of our community. They exist to ensure that all interactions, whether in a pull request, an issue thread, or a Discord conversation, remain respectful, constructive, and aligned with our shared mission. By participating in any Octovel space, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Failure to do so may result in corrective action as described in the Enforcement section.
1. Code of Conduct
1.1 Our Standards
The following values are expected of every member of the community:
- Respect: Regardless of a person’s experience level, background, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or personal beliefs, treat them with dignity.
- Inclusivity: Encourage an atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to take part, ask questions, and make a contribution.
- Integrity: Be honest and transparent in your interactions. Represent your work, ideas, and intentions accurately.
- Accountability: Take responsibility for your actions and their impact on others. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and seek to correct it.
- Professionalism: Even in casual conversations, keep a professional demeanor in all community settings.
1.2 Unacceptable Behavior
The following behaviors are strictly prohibited across all Octovel platforms:
- Harassment, intimidation, or personal attacks of any kind.
- Discriminatory language or conduct based on any personal characteristic.
- Publishing or threatening to publish private information about another person without their consent (doxxing).
- Deliberate disruption of discussions, threads, or community spaces (trolling, spamming).
- Solicitation, advertising, or self-promotion unrelated to Octovel’s mission.
- Any form of dishonest representation, including impersonation of other members or maintainers.
- Sharing or distributing content that is illegal, harmful, or violates third-party rights.
2. Communication Guidelines
2.1 General Principles
Effective and respectful communication is the foundation of a healthy open-source community. When engaging with others, please adhere to the following:
- Be clear and concise. Structure your messages to make them easy to understand. Provide relevant context when opening issues, asking questions, or submitting feedback.
- Stay on topic. Keep discussions relevant to the subject of the channel or thread. Use the appropriate channels for different types of conversations.
- Use constructive language. Critique ideas and implementations, not individuals. Frame feedback in a way that is helpful and actionable.
- Be patient. Octovel is staffed entirely by volunteers. Response times may vary. Avoid sending repeated or escalating messages when awaiting a response.
- Acknowledge contributions. Recognize the time and effort contributors put into the project, even when their work requires changes or cannot be merged.
2.2 GitHub-Specific Standards
When interacting on GitHub, through issues, pull requests, code reviews, or discussions, please follow these additional standards:
- Issues must include sufficient context, steps to reproduce (for bugs), or a clear rationale (for feature requests). Use the provided issue templates where available.
- Pull Requests should reference the issue they address, include a clear description of the changes made, and adhere to the Developer Standards outlined at developer.octovel.org/standards.
- Code Reviews must remain technical and objective. Avoid dismissive or discouraging language. Suggestions should explain the reasoning behind proposed changes.
- Discussions should remain constructive and focused. Avoid reopening closed issues without new, relevant information.
2.3 Discord-Specific Standards
When communicating on the Octovel Discord server:
- Use channels according to their stated purpose. Off-topic conversations belong in designated channels.
- Avoid excessive mentions unless authorized to do so.
- Do not flood channels with repeated messages, large unformatted text blocks, or unsolicited files.
- Voice channels and threads are subject to the same standards as text communication.
3. Conflict Resolution
3.1 Handling Disagreements
Disagreements are a natural part of any collaborative environment. When a conflict occures, members are expected to:
- Address the issue directly and respectfully. Engage with the other party in a calm and constructive manner, focusing on the matter at hand rather than personal grievances.
- Seek common ground. Acknowledge the validity of different perspectives. A disagreement does not require a winner, it requires a resolution.
- Pause if necessary. If a conversation becomes unproductive or emotionally charged, it is appropriate and encouraged to step away and resume when ready.
3.2 Escalation Process
If a conflict cannot be resolved between the parties involved, the following process should be followed:
- Contact a maintainer privately. Reach out to an Octovel maintainer via Discord or GitHub with a summary of the situation. Avoid escalating disputes publicly.
- Provide documentation. Share relevant messages, links, or context to help the maintainer assess the situation fairly.
- Allow time for review. Maintainers will review the situation and respond in a timely manner. Both parties will be heard before any decision is made.
- Accept the outcome. Decisions made by maintainers in conflict resolution are final. If you believe a decision was made in error, you may request a secondary review by a senior maintainer.
3.3 Reporting Violations
If you witness or experience a violation of these guidelines, please report it promptly:
- Discord: Send a direct message to a maintainer or moderator or use the
/report command available with our bot.
- GitHub: Use the platform’s built-in reporting tools, or contact a maintainer directly.
All reports will be handled with confidentiality and impartiality. Retaliating against someone for submitting a report in good faith is itself a violation of these guidelines.
4. Enforcement
4.1 Principles
Enforcement actions are applied consistently and proportionally. The goal of enforcement is not punitive but corrective, to protect the community and restore appropriate conduct. All enforcement decisions are made in good faith and with full consideration of context.
4.2 Enforcement Actions
Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, maintainers may apply one or more of the following actions:
| Level |
Action |
Description |
| 1 |
Warning |
A formal notice issued to the member. The violation is documented and the member is informed of the expected conduct. |
| 2 |
Temporary Restriction |
The member is temporarily restricted from participating in one or more community spaces (GitHub, Discord, or both). |
| 3 |
Temporary Ban |
The member is temporarily banned from all Octovel community spaces for a defined period. |
| 4 |
Permanent Ban |
The member is permanently removed from all Octovel community spaces. Reserved for severe or repeated violations. |
5. Scope
These guidelines apply to all Octovel community spaces, including but not limited to:
- The Octovel GitHub organization and all repositories within it
- The Octovel Discord server and all its channels
- Any official Octovel communications or events
They also apply when an individual is representing Octovel in public spaces, such as conferences, forums, or social media, in an official capacity.
6. Updates to These Guidelines
Octovel reserves the right to update these guidelines at any time. Members will be notified of significant changes through the appropriate community channels. Continued participation in Octovel spaces following an update constitutes acceptance of the revised guidelines.
For questions, concerns, or reports related to these guidelines, please reach out through the following:
- Discord: Direct message a maintainer or moderator
- GitHub: Open a private discussion or contact a maintainer directly
- Web: community.octovel.org
These guidelines are adapted from established open-source community standards and tailored to reflect the values and structure of Octovel.