1. Introduction
While we’re at it, it’s a common misconception that you have to be a programmer in order to help the Linux community. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone can help, provided he or she has Internet access, and, more importantly, the will to help. You are not expected to have any particular knowledge, just to have a few hours/week available for this. This article will not be specific to a distribution or another, because there are hundreds of them and anyway, the general concepts are the same.
While we’re at it, it’s a common misconception that you have to be a programmer in order to help the Linux community. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone can help, provided he or she has Internet access, and, more importantly, the will to help. You are not expected to have any particular knowledge, just to have a few hours/week available for this. This article will not be specific to a distribution or another, because there are hundreds of them and anyway, the general concepts are the same.
2. Why should i help?
The reasons are like this: first of all, if people involved in Linux would have thought the same, you wouldn’t have had a distribution to install and we all would have probably used some commercial OS. Second, if you don’t have this community spirit yet, think about what this “helping the community” thing can do for you. You’ll get experience, useful at home as well as at work, you’ll know a lot of cool people and have fun, and you’ll have something enticing to add to your CV.
The reasons are like this: first of all, if people involved in Linux would have thought the same, you wouldn’t have had a distribution to install and we all would have probably used some commercial OS. Second, if you don’t have this community spirit yet, think about what this “helping the community” thing can do for you. You’ll get experience, useful at home as well as at work, you’ll know a lot of cool people and have fun, and you’ll have something enticing to add to your CV.
3. How can you help ?
The answer is obviously depending on your time, disposition and experience. “Disposition” means what you want to do and you can do. For example you know C and you like to write C code (what you want to do), but from personal reasons (time, laziness, family obligations) you don’t have much time for helping the community with your C skills (what you can do). No problem, as said, there’s something for everyone.
The answer is obviously depending on your time, disposition and experience. “Disposition” means what you want to do and you can do. For example you know C and you like to write C code (what you want to do), but from personal reasons (time, laziness, family obligations) you don’t have much time for helping the community with your C skills (what you can do). No problem, as said, there’s something for everyone.
i) Testing
This part is more important to any project than many people know. It’s said that maintaining and testing code is more important than writing code. You can’t maintain code if there isn’t some QA taking place so you can get feedback about bugs and features. What you need for testing is a machine running your favorite distribution and some free time. You don’t have to know the language some specific application is written in, you just have to use it and report any bugs as thoroughly as possible. Of course, if you know the language and can submit a patch or an idea, the better, but that is not mandatory in any way.
If you feel like this something fun and you want more, join the QA team! The process is easy and simple, and you’ll learn a lot from more experienced people and you’ll get help with some bug that’s been upsetting you for a while, but you didn’t know how to fix it. Usually the QA people meet on IRC, so have a client ready and start. It’s a really fun and educating experience.
This part is more important to any project than many people know. It’s said that maintaining and testing code is more important than writing code. You can’t maintain code if there isn’t some QA taking place so you can get feedback about bugs and features. What you need for testing is a machine running your favorite distribution and some free time. You don’t have to know the language some specific application is written in, you just have to use it and report any bugs as thoroughly as possible. Of course, if you know the language and can submit a patch or an idea, the better, but that is not mandatory in any way.
If you feel like this something fun and you want more, join the QA team! The process is easy and simple, and you’ll learn a lot from more experienced people and you’ll get help with some bug that’s been upsetting you for a while, but you didn’t know how to fix it. Usually the QA people meet on IRC, so have a client ready and start. It’s a really fun and educating experience.
If you want to get serious about this testing thing, you might wanna know the tools you might need, depending on the project and the situation. But to get an idea, we’ll tell you that having gcc, binutils, git/svn/hg, gdb installed is usually a good idea. If you don’t know what these tools are, getting involved will get you kind people willing to help, so you’re bound to learn something.
ii) Spread the word
Despite the fact that Linux is getting more and more popular, many people still don’t know about its’ existence. And there are some that know but still have the impression that it’s CLI-driven, uncomfortable and primitive at best. You can help with that. Maybe there are some computer clubs in your area that you can join, if you haven’t already. Or maybe you have technically-oriented friends that. You never know when and where you’ll find a possible Linux convert.
Despite the fact that Linux is getting more and more popular, many people still don’t know about its’ existence. And there are some that know but still have the impression that it’s CLI-driven, uncomfortable and primitive at best. You can help with that. Maybe there are some computer clubs in your area that you can join, if you haven’t already. Or maybe you have technically-oriented friends that. You never know when and where you’ll find a possible Linux convert.
iii) Graphics and design
In order to attract new desktop users, someone has to design the graphical interfaces. If you ever did web design, know some graphical editing or simply feel talented at this, why not give it a hand? Many websites belonging to Free Software projects suffer because of lack of manpower when it comes to design. Send the webmaster an e-mail describing your experience and that you wish to help. In any part of an Open Source project, any help is welcome and talented designers are hard to find. If you’re already good with cross-platform libraries like QT, you can help with GUI design. If you’re good with C/C++ and graphics is your thing, learning GTK or QT isn’t that hard.
In order to attract new desktop users, someone has to design the graphical interfaces. If you ever did web design, know some graphical editing or simply feel talented at this, why not give it a hand? Many websites belonging to Free Software projects suffer because of lack of manpower when it comes to design. Send the webmaster an e-mail describing your experience and that you wish to help. In any part of an Open Source project, any help is welcome and talented designers are hard to find. If you’re already good with cross-platform libraries like QT, you can help with GUI design. If you’re good with C/C++ and graphics is your thing, learning GTK or QT isn’t that hard.
iv) Writing
Many Linux distributions offer some kind of news site, in order to keep its’ users informed about what happens inside the project. If you like writing and you follow the mailing lists, your help is welcome. There’s not much to write, usually, just a summary of the events going on in a determinate period of time (usually a week). Or, you can use with proofreading already written news. If you’re good with English, and maybe want to translate, you’ll have something to do for sure.
Many Linux distributions offer some kind of news site, in order to keep its’ users informed about what happens inside the project. If you like writing and you follow the mailing lists, your help is welcome. There’s not much to write, usually, just a summary of the events going on in a determinate period of time (usually a week). Or, you can use with proofreading already written news. If you’re good with English, and maybe want to translate, you’ll have something to do for sure.
v) Volunteering
There is always need for help at such events, with booths, flyers and other tasks specific to such happenings. Usually the project attending or organizing the event will post a link on its’ website or in a note in the weekly news or the distribution’s planet RSS feed. If you’re in the area and have time, enroll. You’ll get the chance to help and meet lots of prominent figures in the Free Software world.
There is always need for help at such events, with booths, flyers and other tasks specific to such happenings. Usually the project attending or organizing the event will post a link on its’ website or in a note in the weekly news or the distribution’s planet RSS feed. If you’re in the area and have time, enroll. You’ll get the chance to help and meet lots of prominent figures in the Free Software world.
vii) Publishing
If you’re the blogging type, consider creating a blog where you can put your experiences with Linux. You never know how/when you can help someone that’s in the same situation as you were at the time of the writing. Also, if you get a lot of traffic, you might even get some money out of this, and the blog will be useful to you as well, since you’ll know where to look when you hit the same issue again. If you do not feel like to run your own blog and you have a great Linux tutorial or Linux project you want the world to know about.
If you’re the blogging type, consider creating a blog where you can put your experiences with Linux. You never know how/when you can help someone that’s in the same situation as you were at the time of the writing. Also, if you get a lot of traffic, you might even get some money out of this, and the blog will be useful to you as well, since you’ll know where to look when you hit the same issue again. If you do not feel like to run your own blog and you have a great Linux tutorial or Linux project you want the world to know about.
viii) Development
Linux projects always need a helping hand when it comes to code, either to implement new features or to test and patch existing ones. There are usually few orphaned packages that need some love so if you feel like taking them into custody, write to the actual maintainer or the mailing list. Speaking of which, it’s usually a good idea to be subscribed to the development mailing lists in these situations.
Linux projects always need a helping hand when it comes to code, either to implement new features or to test and patch existing ones. There are usually few orphaned packages that need some love so if you feel like taking them into custody, write to the actual maintainer or the mailing list. Speaking of which, it’s usually a good idea to be subscribed to the development mailing lists in these situations.
ix) Helping other users
join the others and answer questions that you can handle. Remember, being polite is just as important as being knowledgeable, so terrorizing newbies doesn’t go too well usually. It’s all about community, remember? Be nice to your fellow man and remember that you were once in the same situation as him/her.
join the others and answer questions that you can handle. Remember, being polite is just as important as being knowledgeable, so terrorizing newbies doesn’t go too well usually. It’s all about community, remember? Be nice to your fellow man and remember that you were once in the same situation as him/her.
4. How does this affect your career?
First, If you have read “Google may hire you by your search term!” , the same farmula applies here, many bigshot companies uses open source technology and who knows you will get job offer in your email! Second ,as stated before, every bit of experience counts when you’re going to an interview, so if you prove you’ve worked with various technologies in various ways, that will count a lot when the decision has to be made. We wish you luck and remember to have a good time.
First, If you have read “Google may hire you by your search term!” , the same farmula applies here, many bigshot companies uses open source technology and who knows you will get job offer in your email! Second ,as stated before, every bit of experience counts when you’re going to an interview, so if you prove you’ve worked with various technologies in various ways, that will count a lot when the decision has to be made. We wish you luck and remember to have a good time.
5. Conclusion
There are other ways in which you can help that aren’t maybe listed above. The whole idea is we invite you to help the community in any way you can, even though it might seem something trivial. Good things come to those who wait and after some time, the fruits of your work will start to show.
There are other ways in which you can help that aren’t maybe listed above. The whole idea is we invite you to help the community in any way you can, even though it might seem something trivial. Good things come to those who wait and after some time, the fruits of your work will start to show.
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