Open Source Projects For Beginners

itwbennett writes "Whoever said 'everyone has to start somewhere' has clearly never tried contributing to an open source project — the Linux Kernel development team in particular is known for its savagery. But if you're determined to donate your time and talents, there are some things you can do to get off on the right foot. Of course you should pick something you're interested in and that you use. Check, and double check. You should also research the project, learn about the process for contributing, and do your utmost to avoid asking questions that you can find the answers to. But beyond that there are some hallmarks of beginner-friendly open source projects like Drupal, Python, and LibreOffice — namely, a friendly and active community, training and mentorship programs, and a low barrier to entry."

Comments

Github makes it easy.

[mwvdlee]

1) Get a github account.
2a) Submit a bug.
2b) Request a new feature.
2c) Fix a bug.
2d) Research and comment on an open issue.
2e) Add a new feature.
2f) Fix typos in documentation.
2g) Add documentation.
2h) Add a translation for your own language.
2i) Add a new theme/template.
2j) Make the project page nicer to look at.
2k) Thank the authors.
2l) ???
3) Profit!

Getting involved starts simply with making "first contact".
Any half-decent project team will gracefully accept anything you have to offer and pretty soon you'll find you have quite a lot to offer.