This document discusses how to make contributions to open source projects. It outlines several ways to contribute, including using open source software, helping with translations, reporting bugs with detailed information, submitting patches as a contributor, and becoming a developer or maintainer. The document encourages participating in online discussions and finding projects of interest to get involved in, such as testing with the Linux Test Project. Overall it provides an introduction to different levels of contribution for open source and helps address how to answer interview questions about making contributions to open source.

1. Making Contributions to Open Source
A Rapid Session For Ubuntu 11.04 Release Party
Caspar Zhang
Linux@BYR, Red Hat
May 16, 2011

2. Agenda
Make Contribution to Open Souce
Intro
How
Patch Contributor
More. . .
Making Contributions to Open Source 2/6

3. Intro - A Question from Interview
How did you make a contribution to Open Souce
Society/Products/Projects?
Feedback: No idea,
Poor practice,
Reporting Bugs,
Submitting Patches, . . .
Making Contributions to Open Source 3/6

4. How to Make a Contribution?
1. Use Open Source Softwares;
2. i18n/l10n for: Softwares, Websites, e.g. ubuntu.com;
3. Reporting bugs:
Simply say “it doesn’t work” in Bugzilla
Detailed env/OS information
Traceback/Debug information
Test with another version/another env
Code review and diff s
4. Patch Contributor
5. Developer/Maintainer
Making Contributions to Open Source 4/6

5. To Be a Patch Contributor
IRC/Mailling list/BBS(?)
Projects around (e.g. openfetion :D)
Interested in Kernel? Help to test with LTP! http://ltp.sf.net
Don’t be afraid to argue with others in IRC/Mailling list
Making Contributions to Open Source 5/6

6. More. . .
Linus debating with others with a glibc bug;
Linus said “No Magic” to a kernel contributor;
LTP: A good way to get familar with Linux Kernel
Something about Red Hat & Fedora, Enterprise Linux &
Desktop Linux (e.g. Ubuntu!)
Making Contributions to Open Source 6/6