Compare · Curated list vs platform
BreakPoint vs pickhardt/maintainers-wanted
A curated GitHub list vs the adoption platform. The pickhardt list is the original "curated by one person" approach — fast to skim, limited action surface. BreakPoint is the 2026 version — same discovery, full handoff workflow.
Published July 13, 2026 · ~3 min read
The short version
pickhardt/maintainers-wanted is a single markdown file. Great for discovery.
BreakPoint is the adoption network. Great for action.
Use the list to find projects. Use BreakPoint to actually do the handoff.
The list vs the platform
The pickhardt list was created in 2018, before any of the platforms existed. It pioneered the "single curated markdown file" approach — every entry is a link to a project. The strength is speed of skim: you can read the whole list in 5 minutes and find 3 projects worth investigating. The weakness is action: once you've found a project, the list can't help you. You follow the link to the project's GitHub, you read the README, you try to contact the maintainer, and you're on your own.
BreakPoint is the 2026 version of the same idea, with a workflow: per-project story pages explain why the project was dropped, a "next steps" section tells the new maintainer where to pick up, a conversation thread gives both sides a place to coordinate, and the platform tracks the handoff from drop to first PR.
Frequently asked questions
What is pickhardt/maintainers-wanted?
A curated GitHub list of projects looking for new maintainers. Single markdown file. Maintained by Jan Pickhardt.
When should I use the list vs BreakPoint?
Use the list for discovery, BreakPoint for action.