KYD Developer Trust Model

The KYD Developer Trust Model outlines the progression of developer visibility, credibility, and trust in high-risk, contractor-heavy environments such as telecommunications, healthcare, and national security. As developers increasingly contribute critical infrastructure across short-term projects and rotating teams, organizations lack consistent ways to recognize and validate those contributions. This model defines five stages of developer trust, from untracked to ecosystem-recognized, and provides actionable steps to help developers strengthen their professional credibility—independently of employer-controlled systems.

  
      Level
      Stage
      Description
      Trust Signals
    

  
      1
      Untracked
      No consistent public identity or traceable contributions. Work attribution is entirely lost across contracts.
      Minimal or no public developer presence. No persistent usernames or project associations.
    

      2
      Identified
      Basic public presence (e.g., GitHub, LinkedIn), but scattered and inconsistent. Contributions may be visible, but aren’t clearly connected to a trusted identity.
      Unlinked or partial profiles, inconsistent usernames, unclear contribution history.
    

      3
      Verified
      Developer identity is confirmed. Contributions are surfaced in a structured format. Reputation signals begin to form.
      Verified KYD Self-Check, consistent identity across platforms, linked project activity.
    

      4
      Self-Owned Trust
      Developer maintains a portable trust record. Contributions and reputation are visible beyond the scope of any single contract or client.
      KYD badge and trust profile included in resumes or proposals; visible trust history across engagements.
    

      5
      Ecosystem-Aware Trust
      Developer operates in KYD-integrated environments. Trust signals are recognized and valued automatically across systems.
      Continuously verified trust status, referenced in hiring or project selection workflows, optional testimonials.
    