The document discusses open source software, which is free, modifiable, and redistributable, highlighting its significance in enterprises and the success of Mozilla as an open source company. It shares Justin Potts' journey with Mozilla and details his current role, contributions, and advice for participation in open source projects. Additionally, it emphasizes the benefits of contributing to open source, including networking opportunities and improved job prospects.

1. Contributing to
Open Source
Justin Potts
Mozilla Core Contributor

2. What is Open Source?
Open source is defined as software that is free,
modifiable, and able to be redistributed.

3. Companies in Open Source

4. Why is Open Source
Important?
•
98% enterprises are using OSS today
•
Customer influence
•
Low cost and effective
•
Improved quality

5. What is Mozilla?
Mozilla is an open source company split into a
foundation and a corporation.Their mission is “To
create a community of people that believe in keeping
the web open and free.”

6. A Brief History
• March 31st
, 1998 @ NetScape
• 10,000 people paid for a full page ad in the NewYork
Times in 2004 – the day Firefox 1.0 launched
• Has contributors on every continent
• In 2008, 8,002,530 people downloaded Firefox, setting a
Guinness World Record
• 2013 marked the launch of Firefox OS and their 15th
anniversary

7. How I Got Involved
• Google Code-In 2012 Finalist
• Began with Mozilla in March 2013
• Editorial reviews for Mozilla Developer Network
• Moved to QA in February 2014

8. What I Do Now
• “Senior Automation Engineer for mozillians.org”
• QA Project Lead for webmaker.org
• Contribute to marketplace.mozilla.org
• Work on a team of six

9. How You Can Get Involved
• Find a company that has a mission that appeals to you
• Choose a particular field that you think you would
enjoy
• Look for ways to contribute (Bugs that need fixing or
filing, design improvements, documentation
creation/updates)

10. Benefits of Contributing
• Get invited to events
• Potential internships
• Increased job prospects
• Connections
• Recommendations

11. How Computer Science
Helped Me
• Fundamentals
• Resume builder
• Broader knowledge
• Access to more projects

12. Things to Do
• Learn more languages (Python, JavaScript, Objective-C,
PHP...)
• Find an interesting open source project
• Get familiar with the software
• Learn more tools
• Stimulate yourself outside of class (Competitions,
hackathons, meetups)

13. Check out Some of My Work
• GitHub profile: https://www.github.com/justinpotts
• Bugzilla profile: http://mzl.la/1BwKD6O

14. DEMO

15. Questions