The document discusses contributing to open source projects. It outlines that contributing can include writing software, documentation, tutorials, manuals, reporting bugs, or designing themes and logos. Both individuals and companies/universities contribute to open source. The benefits of contributing include improving coding skills, having work reviewed by others, and making software that helps people. The document provides tips on how to start contributing such as using the software, submitting feedback, communicating with the project team, and choosing a small project that is used or liked.

1. Contributing to Open Source
Ahmad Saeed
Ahmad@gmx.us
Software Freedom Day @ Alexandria University 2010
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How
Why
Who
What
Where
Agenda

3. Agenda
What's Meant by Contributing to Open Source
Who is Contributing?
Why Bother?
How to Contribute
Where to Contribute
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4. What's Meant by Contributing to
Open Source
Fulfilling an Open Source Project's needs
Needs might include
Writing software.
Designing themes, logos and banners.
Documenting code and writing tutorial,
manuals and user guides.
Reporting bugs
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5. Who is Contributing?
Individuals
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6. Who is Contributing?
Universities
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7. Who is Contributing?
Companies
Multinationals
Egyptians
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8. Why Bother?
Gets you to code and design stuff that people
will use
Gets you to document your code and polish
your designs
Gets your stuff reviewed
Makes you a better Coder/Designer
Your stuff is out there for everyone to learn form
Makes people's life better
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Makes the world better

9. Why Bother?
Change (Y)our World
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10. How to Start Contributing
Start using the software
Get familiar with its strengths and weaknesses
Submit features requests
Write a tutorial for beginners
Report bugs
Don't just sit there watching !!
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11. How to Start Contributing (Contd.)
Start communicating with the project's team
Project's page and FAQ
IRC (e.g. freenode server)
Mailing lists
Developer blogs and contacts
Check out the code and compile it
Check bug trackers and features requests and try
helping with them
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12. How to Start Contributing (Contd.)
Show Them You're There
Wiki
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13. Where to Start Contributing
Choose a project
Start small
Choose a project that you use
Choose a project that you like
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Or check out your favorite project's page ...

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Thank You !!
Questions ??