Too Long; Didn't Read
Open source projects have many visible cues (or signals) that let people make rich inferences about the health of the project and the tone of its community. These signals inform their decision about using a product or joining a project. If your project has a vibrant set of signals, a prospective user or contributor is far more likely to engage with your product or community. Signals can be direct or indirect: direct, indirect, indirect or costlier. Context and personas are crucial when interpreting signals.