In this talk I gave to the PHP Cape Town meetup group, I discussed the 3 main benefits I've found from actively contributing to open source communities (specifically WordPress) over the last 3 years.

1. Taking the red pill
The benefits of contributing to open source

2. Disclaimer
I am a developer not a designer, so I make boring slides.
I use my slides as presentation notes.
No open source projects were harmed during the making of this presentation.

3. What is open source ?
Open-source software (OSS) is a type of computer software with its source code made available with a
license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to
anyone and for any purpose.
● The four freedoms
● Free is an freedom, not free as in beer
● It’s everywhere

4. Early open source vs open source today
● Open source today is not just about the code.
● Early open source was about the idea that code is ownerless, enforceable by license, which
theoretically leads to resilient software.
● Modern open source is about 1) building and 2) collaborating in public.
https://medium.com/@nayafia/i-hate-the-term-open-source-a65fd481a95

5. The benefits

6. Some context
I have been using open source software since
2006 - 12 years.
I have been actively contributing to open source
software since 2015 - 2 years, mainly in the
scope of the WordPress project
WordPress Cape Town meetup group
WordCamp Cape Town speaker/organiser
Community deputy

7. Benefit 1: Learning
● CakePHP
● Jquery
● Ubuntu
● Git
● Vagrant
● Building your own CMS/MVC
framework is hard
● I don’t like JavaScript frameworks!
New things I learned before I took the red pill - 2006 - 2015

8. Benefit 1: Learning
● WordPress
● Laravel
● AWS
● React/Vue
● Docker
● Homestead
● Valet
● GPL
● REST API
● Oauth
● Stripe
● Unit Testing
● Continuous Integration
● CSS Grid
New things I learned after I took the red pill - 2015 to now

9. Benefit 1: Learning
● Even though I am not contributing to the code, my involvement in the
project means I get exposed to things I never would have in the past.
● When I am working on a project, instead of needing to perform a Google
search, I can reach out to real people for guidance
● My contributions have directly lead to interesting work, which leads me to
learn new things.

10. Benefit 2: Community
Open source is about the community and ecosystem around the code, not just
the code.
● Meet and interact with people from around the world.
● Broadening your world view.
● The global village.

11. Benefit 2: Community.
Contributing to open source does not mean just code.
● Documentation
● Support
● Meetups
● Conferences
● Mentoring

12. Benefit 3: Building your personal brand.
Being involved in open source is gateway to work.
● The question I get asked the most by other freelancers.
● Leads from folks who don’t even know if I am a good developer.
● Clients/projects/opportunities from around the world.

13. Tips.
A beginners guide to contribution.
1. Pick a passion project (if it aligns with your work, so much better).
2. Try contributing in a few different places.
3. You’re volunteering, it’s OK to miss a deadline/make a mistake.
4. People are going to complain (the vocal minority).

14. Open Source is one of
the most powerful
ideas of our
generation. Now is
the best time to be
part of the movement.

15. Thanks!
Questions?
Jonathan Bossenger
@jon_bossenger
https://jonathanbossenger.com