It's one thing to browse sites like SourceForge, GitHub, and Codeplex. However, I'm finding it difficult to find an open source project that needs someone with my skill set and also wants my help. Do open source projects not advertise that they especially need someone with a specific skill or set of skills? If not, how do you recommend actually choosing one where you can make a difference (because if I'm not going to be able to do something useful for the project, there's no sense in me contributing)?
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572answers:
7
+1
Q:
How do you find an open-source project that needs skills you have to offer and wants your help?
A:
Duplicate of Open Source Projects That Are Easy To Contribute Code To and Finding an Open Source Project To Work On
Paul Tomblin
2008-11-17 19:45:23
I don't think those questions are the same.
Aaron Fischer
2008-11-17 19:48:14
That's because they aren't. There's a difference between finding open source projects and actually finding one that needs your help.
Thomas Owens
2008-11-17 19:50:12
Oh yeah, because those other people looking for open source projects "To Contribute Code To" or "To Work On" weren't looking for ones they could work on? That's semantic hair splitting.
Paul Tomblin
2008-11-17 20:09:05
A:
I would find something you are interested in and work on it, If there happens to be an open source project already, then great.
No sense in working on stuff you are not interested in.
Tim
2008-11-17 19:50:47
I think that's part 2. I have a project of my own, but I would also like to be part of something bigger. I don't have to like something to contribute code to it...especially when I'm back at school and not sitting at a computer coding all day.
Thomas Owens
2008-11-17 19:53:00
+4
A:
In General you find an open source project you use and feel passionate about. Submit patches and documentation to it. Be part of the community and your contributions will be rolled into the project. I haven't really seen many projects post requests for needed resources. Many projects are just the community working towards a common goal and we make use of the resources we have. You can join and submit become known and appreciated. You could email the admin but, until you are known don't expect commit access.
Aaron Fischer
2008-11-17 19:52:55
That's easier said than done, especially for larger projects. I'm interested in finding a project that currently doesn't have (enough) people to contribute and is actively looking for people to work on it. Something like OpenOffice, for example, probably has tons of people. I don't want that at all.
Thomas Owens
2008-11-17 19:56:19
OK...just submitting stuff feels weird to me, but if that's how it's done...well, it answers my question perfectly.
Thomas Owens
2008-11-17 20:14:19
A:
Even if they aren't "looking" for help, send the project lead an email anyways stating your interest. Worst they can say is no.
Ryan Thames
2008-11-17 19:56:30
+1
A:
Did you read the responses at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/43649/how-to-get-involved-in-an-open-source-project?
Robert S.
2008-11-17 19:56:32
+1
A:
Sourceforge maintains a Help Wanted board, although it appears that few projects use it, since there are less than one hundred postings out of the multiple thousands of projects on Sourceforge.
You can check a list of open source bounties, such as this one.
Linux distros such as Fedora and Ubuntu maintain documentation on how to become a volunteer.
The Gnome Love page linked to in a related answer has information on contributing to GNOME.
Josh Kelley
2008-11-17 20:01:00
+1
A:
What skill set are you referring to? Language? Framework? Tools?
That's not how OSS works - most of OSS projects are started because:
- There was no program to solve the creator's particular problem.
- If there was such a program, than it was either incomplete, or did not work well.
- It's an interesting problem.
And most of the people who help/join OSS projects later do it usually because they have a similar problem, or need an extension.
In any case, most of the OSS projects do need help, but help form "interested" parties. I.e. either someone, who wants the project improved, because he/she needs some more functionality, or someone with domain knowledge, which is interested in general on the topic.
In sourceforge you can filter by programming language, operating system, etc. As well as you can refine with keywords (to include domain knowledge).
But overall - find a project you really like/need. Learning new language/framework shouldn't be a problem.
Sunny
2008-11-17 20:02:32