Technowine

This page is aimed at programmers new to the Open Source / Free Software world, who want to make a contribution, but aren’t sure where to start.
Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.

1. Use different open source projects like Linux, Solaris, Firefox, Filezilla, Apache HTTP Server, Gaim, and others.

2. Look for a place to contribute. This means not only programming, but also documentation, theme design, art work, or architectural design.

3. Note that each project has its own distinct methods for communication and submitting contributions.

4. Join the mailing list. This is highly recommended because you will never feel that you are left behind. You can also get feedback on patches and contributions.

5. Respect and maintain discussions.

6. Encourage contributions.

7. Start small by reporting and fixing bugs.

8. Submitting small patches containing bug fixes.

9. Respond and send feedback.

10. If you really want to help but don’t have the experience or the know-how, DONATE! By giving a few dollars to help out open source developers, you can help them get the tools they need to build better programs.

Also read, http://www.kegel.com/academy/opensource.html

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