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Contributing as an End User

End users are some of the most important contributors to the LF Decentralized Trust (LFDT) ecosystem.
By adopting LFDT projects in production, sharing feedback, and documenting real-world use cases, end users help guide the direction of our community and validate its impact in the world.

As a first step, we encourage all organizations actively using LFDT projects to add themselves to that project’s adopters.md file. This helps demonstrate adoption, build confidence for new users, and showcase the global reach of LFDT technologies.

LFDT End User Community

The LFDT End User Community offers a vendor-neutral environment for forward-thinking organizations to:

  • Influence the technologies they rely on by providing feedback directly to project maintainers and governance groups.
  • Connect with peers to exchange lessons learned, platform strategies, and best practices.
  • Amplify their stories by documenting adoption and participating in case studies or blogs.

Together, end users help ensure LFDT projects remain relevant, interoperable, and enterprise-ready.

End User Definition

An LFDT End User is an organization that utilizes decentralized trust technologies internally to build, deploy, and operate software applications, systems, or services.

End Users do not include:

  • Companies that engage in the direct commercial distribution, support, or sale of software generated by LFDT projects.
  • Companies that sell or commercially distribute other products or services (e.g., identity, security, interoperability tooling) that enable, host, optimize, monitor, or secure LFDT technologies.
  • Training providers who sell courses, educational content, or professional certifications related to LFDT technologies.
  • Consultancies and system integrators.

✅ Note: Contributing plug-ins, integrations, or extensions back to LFDT projects does not disqualify an organization from being an LFDT End User.

Exceptions may be approved by LFDT on a case-by-case basis, particularly where commercial activity is incidental or de minimis.

Why Participate as an End User?

End users shape the ecosystem by demonstrating what works in production.

  • Influence the Tech You Rely On
    Provide real-world feedback to maintainers and influence where LFDT projects are headed.

  • Elevate Your Organization’s Story
    Share your adoption journey through case studies, conference talks, or adopters.md entries to inspire others.

  • Connect with a Global Network
    Engage with project communities, working groups, and peer organizations solving similar challenges.

  • Navigate the Ecosystem with Clarity
    Explore trusted tools, adoption patterns, and proven best practices from across LFDT projects.

Value Across Your Organization

Participation as an end user benefits multiple roles within your organization:

Developers & Engineering Teams

  • Use and improve the LFDT projects you depend on.
  • Contribute feedback, patches, or documentation.
  • Build credibility in a global open source community.

Platform & Operations Teams

  • Leverage interoperable tooling and practices across LFDT projects.
  • Gain insights from other production adopters.
  • Showcase your team’s work through case studies and blog features.

Marketing & Community

  • Boost your brand’s visibility within the decentralized trust ecosystem.
  • Share your story through LFDT blogs, case studies, and community events.
  • Gain recognition as a thought leader in open, trusted systems.

Executives & Technology Leaders

  • Position your organization as a leader in decentralized trust adoption.
  • Participate in strategic discussions and LFDT roadmapping efforts.
  • Gain visibility and credibility through community recognition.

How to Get Started

  1. Add your organization to an LFDT project’s adopters.md.
    This is the simplest, most impactful first step — it makes adoption visible and celebrated.

  2. Engage with the community.
    Join project calls, mailing lists, and community discussions.

  3. Share your journey.
    Publish a blog, case study, or present your use case at an LFDT event.

  4. Contribute feedback.
    Open issues, propose improvements, and help prioritize features.

Contributing as an end user isn’t just about adoption — it’s about shaping the future of decentralized trust technologies.
If your organization is using an LFDT project today, take the first step: add yourself to the project’s adopters.md file and join the growing community of contributors.