Thanks to Open Source Software the world of programming and software development is far more expansive and open than ever before. Once you learn the principles of coding, you are free to join the community of developers who tinker with bits of code. They aim to make it better or more suited to their need. Being Open Source gives you license to do whatever you want with the system, free of restrictions.
But there is more to Open Source Software Development than just coding and programming. Open Source is all about community. Offering ideas and tips. Testing software to help make it better. This is all part of Open Source.
What follows then are our top tips and ideas to help you on your journey towards being involved in Open Source projects. It is not a full list, but hopefully, there will be something useful for you here.
First of all, jump in
Regardless of your experience, or lack of, still jump into the pool that is Open Source Software Development. There are all kinds of people involved. Many start off with just basic knowledge of coding and join to be involved. But as they jump in, they learn more. It will be the same for you.
Even if you have no coding experience at all, you can still be involved. As we mentioned earlier being Open Source means the community may need you to test software. Beta testing is such a big thing, and there can be rewards for doing so. Also, you get to try out that brand new bit of code before it is fully released.
Be creative and imaginative
Open Source Developers are looking for creative and original minds. All software is built on a need, then an idea. Without these two elements, we wouldn’t have Microsoft Windows or Linux. Those early developers saw a need and came up with a plan. You could be responsible for the next big thing in Open Source software.
Open Source needs writers too
If your skills are more in the written word, rather than code, then developers need you too. The project details will have to write up plus there will be a need for publicity both in hard copy and on the internet. There is a big market for writers in Open Source Software Development.
And if you CAN code…
If your strengths and experience lay in coding then, of course, Open Source developers want you to be part of the community. After all the ideas and design there comes the hard work of putting it all into code. Many jobs as part of a team taking on small projects. You may have code you have already written that can be released to the community.
Like we said earlier, this is not an exhaustive list. But maybe there is something here that might inspire you to jump in.